Prince Harry Accused of Destroying Documents in Tabloid Lawsuit

Lawyer for British Tabloid Claims Prince Harry Engaged in "Shocking" Obfuscation

Headline-Grabbing Accusations in High-Profile Media Privacy Case

An attorney for the publisher of The Sun tabloid has accused Prince Harry of engaging in "shocking" and "extraordinary" obfuscation by allegedly destroying evidence that was being sought in his lawsuit claiming the newspaper violated his privacy.

Anthony Hudson , the lawyer representing News Group Newspapers (NGN), told the High Court in London that the Duke of Sussex had deliberately destroyed text messages with the ghostwriter who penned his bestselling memoir, "Spare."

"We have had to drag those out of the claimant kicking and screaming," Hudson said, accusing Harry of creating an "obstacle course" in the disclosure of potentially relevant documents.

However, Harry 's attorney, David Sherborne, pushed back against the allegations, calling them the "height of hypocrisy." Sherborne argued that NGN's legal team was simply conducting a "classic fishing expedition" by seeking documents they should have requested much earlier for the trial, which is scheduled to begin in January 2024.

"NGN's tactical and sluggish approach to disclosure wholly undermines the deliberately sensational assertion that the claimant ( Harry ) has not properly carried out the disclosure exercise," Sherborne said in court papers. "This is untrue. In fact, the claimant has already made clear that he has conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations."

Longstanding Battle Against British Tabloids

The hearing is the latest development in Prince Harry 's ongoing legal battles against Britain 's largest tabloid publishers over alleged phone hacking and the use of unlawful measures to obtain private information about him.

Harry is one of dozens of claimants, including actor Hugh Grant, who have alleged that between 1994 and 2016, News Group journalists violated their privacy through widespread unlawful activity. This includes intercepting voicemails, tapping phones, bugging cars, and using deception to access confidential information.

The litigation stems from the phone hacking scandal that erupted at NGN's News of the World in 2011, leading to the closure of the newspaper. While NGN has issued an unreserved apology to victims and settled over 1,300 claims, the company has never accepted liability for The Sun.

Disclosure Disputes and Allegations of Obstruction

At the heart of the latest hearing is the issue of document disclosure, with NGN's legal team accusing Prince Harry of deliberately obstructing their efforts to obtain relevant information.

Hudson claimed that Harry had "destroyed" text messages between himself and J.R. Moehringer , the ghostwriter of "Spare," which were sent via the messaging app Signal. The lawyer also said the disclosure of other potentially relevant emails had been "highly unsatisfactory."

In response, Sherborne argued that NGN's approach to disclosure was "tactical and sluggish," undermining their "deliberately sensational assertion" that Harry had not properly carried out his obligations. He said the claimant had already conducted extensive searches and gone "above and beyond" his duties.

The judge in the case, Timothy Fancourt , is expected to rule on NGN's application for further disclosure later on Thursday.

Ongoing Battles and the Future of the Case

The hearing is the latest development in the long-running legal battle between Prince Harry and Britain 's tabloid media. The outcome of this particular dispute over document disclosure could have significant implications for the broader case, which is set to go to trial early next year.

As the litigation continues, the allegations of document destruction and obstructive tactics are likely to further inflame the already tense relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the media outlets he has accused of violating his privacy. The case remains a high-stakes and closely watched legal drama, with far-reaching implications for both sides.