A royal journalist said she “had very good sources” in Prince Harry’s inner circle, explaining how she got many stories from the Duke of Sussex’s close friends, the High Court heard.
Former diary editor of The Mail on Sunday, Katie Nicholl, gave evidence during her cross-examination with barrister David Sherborne, who is representing a group of household names, including Harry.
Seven claimants are bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), which publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
The publisher firmly denies the claims and is actively defending the case.
A royal journalist told the court she ‘had very good sources’ iun | PA
Giving evidence on February 12, Ms Nicholl repeatedly denied obtaining information through unlawful means.
The former diary editor was asked about her written evidence, in which she stated she met Harry at a party at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London around April 2003.
She told the London court that she saw Harry smoking a cigarette near the entrance to a private room and invited her inside.
Ms Nicholl explained she had a good memory of this, saying: “It’s not all the time you get invited into a party by one of the most famous princes in the world.”
The journalist said many of the Duke of Sussex’s friends ‘were not all tight-lipped’
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Mr Sherborne said the journalist had been overstating her relationship with Harry and “exaggerating” the extent of her contacts.
He said: “I suggest to you that Prince Harry’s close circle of friends were well aware… and were very tight-lipped.
Ms Nicholl replied: “They were not all tight-lipped. They certainly weren’t. I had very good sources in the inner circle.”
She explained that she did not need to “sit at home” and use unlawful methods to source stories “because I had real contacts genuinely close to Prince Harry who were willing to speak to me”.
Ms Nicholl is named as an author of seven articles in the duke’s claim against ANL
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Ms Nicholl is named as an author of seven articles in the duke’s claim against ANL, which Harry alleges was based on unlawful information-gathering.
The journalist said she had an “excellent, reliable network of contacts” in her written evidence, stating that she received multiple stories about Harry from friends.
One article concerning Harry involves him being chosen as godfather to the child of his former nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
In her written evidence, Ms Nicholl said she was not “100 per cent sure” who she discussed with to get the story, but often spoke to a close confidante and first cousin once removed, Lady Elizabeth Anson, a “close friend” of Ms Legge-Bourke.
Harry is one of seven household names bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited
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Mr Sherborne asked the journalist about the article, saying: “You don’t recall actually speaking to her about this.”
Ms Nicholl replied: “It’s very difficult to remember what conversations I had in 2001”, adding that there “was a close family connection”.
She later explained that information for a story about the duke’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, “came from one of Chelsy’s very good friends in South Africa”, rather than unlawful means.
The trial is due to conclude at the end of March, with judge Mr Justice Nicklin expected to give a written judgment at a later date.