The Duke of Sussex said he had ‘never used the name Mr Mischief’ despite claims heard in court that he had used a Facebook profile under that name to communicate with a journalist
Prince Harry has denied using the name ‘Mr Mischief’ after a court was told that he had used a Facebook profile under that name to communicate with a journalist. Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, claimed while cross-examining the Duke of Sussex that Harry used a Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to contact a Mail On Sunday journalist.
Mr White asked Harry whether he had met Charlotte Griffiths, who the barrister claimed moved in the duke’s “social circles” during the hearing at the High Court on Wednesday, January 21. Harry said he had “no idea that she was a journalist” when they met over a weekend in 2011, but Mr White said that Ms Griffiths claimed they met in Ibiza.
The duke said: “I don’t think that can be right. I don’t believe I have ever been to Ibiza other than with my now wife (the Duchess of Sussex).”
Mr White then claimed that Harry used the Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to communicate with Ms Griffiths, suggesting that the duke “exchanged friendly messages” and his mobile number with her on social media.
Harry said he had “never used the name Mr Mischief”, and that he had “no idea” if he had exchanged messages with Ms Griffiths on Facebook.
During the tense exchange between Harry and barristers representing Associated Newspapers Limited, the Duke of Sussex declared that his social circles ‘were not leaky’ but that he was unable to complain about press coverage because of the royal institution.
He said: “My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear.” He added that if he became suspicious of someone, “I would have to cut contact with this person”.
The duke, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
This includes claims that information for articles was obtained by carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as phone tapping and “blagging” private records.
ANL has strongly denied wrongdoing and is defending the claims.
In his witness statement for the trial, Harry said he has always had an “uneasy relationship” with the press, adding: “However, as a member of the institution the policy was to ‘never complain, never explain’.”
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