Prince Harry steadfastly maintains that there is “no cover-up” regarding the deletion of his text messages in the ongoing phone hacking lawsuit against the publishers of the U.K.’s The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN).
On June 27, NGN’s lawyers accused the Duke of Sussex of “obfuscation,” alleging that he had “deliberately destroyed” crucial evidence, including hundreds of texts and emails. They claimed that Harry had deleted these messages “well after this claim was underway.”
English High Court Justice Timothy Fancourt recognized the “troubling evidence” indicating that Harry had erased messages after the lawsuit commenced, describing it as “a real concern.” Harry had personally undertaken the task of searching for the relevant documents at his Montecito, California, home.
Judge Fancourt subsequently ordered Harry to provide an explanation in court. In response, Harry’s legal team has adamantly denied any cover-up, insisting that he has gone “above and beyond his obligations” to locate and submit the documents. They characterized the opposing counsel’s demands as a “classic fishing expedition.”
However, Harry’s lawyers did acknowledge that many of his texts, particularly those related to his memoir “Spare,” were deleted because they contained “highly sensitive information about Harry and his family.” They argued that if these texts were leaked, they “would not only compromise his security but also be potentially damaging to him and his family,” as reported by In Touch.
The Duke’s legal representatives emphasized that the deletions were necessary to protect the privacy and security of Harry and his family. They assert that the content removed was unrelated to the case and was instead a precaution to prevent personal information from becoming public.
As the legal proceedings continue, Prince Harry remains resolute, defending his actions and asserting that there was no intentional destruction of evidence. He emphasizes that all actions taken were to safeguard sensitive information and that his cooperation in the case has been thorough and in good faith. The outcome of this high-profile case will hinge on whether the court accepts Harry’s explanations and the justifications provided by his legal team.