The opening day of Prince Harry’s damages battle against the owners of The Sun newspaper has been delayed after it emerged that the two sides are involved in potential settlement talks after years of legal warfare.
The duke’s lawyers were due on Tuesday to open an eight-week trial of his allegations that journalists at News Group Newspapers used unlawful techniques to pry into his private live – and executives then allegedly covered it up.
Moments before they were to begin presenting their case, they asked for an adjournment.
However, after hours of secret discussions, and no sign of a final agreement that could change the nature of the trial, the judge demanded that the two sides begin – leading them both to say they would ask the Court of Appeal to overturn that order.
The practical effect of their objection is that the case has been delayed until at least 10am on Wednesday – which means both sides have more time to negotiate.
It’s not clear what has been raised in the 11th hour negotiations.
Prince Harry has repeatedly said he wants a trial so that he can get “accountability” for other alleged victims of unlawful newsgathering of private information by NGN journalists.
NGN has denied there was any wrongdoing at The Sun or that executives across the group covered it up.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned empire has long admitted that journalists at the News of the World, closed down in 2011, did use unlawful techniques but has always denied that it was widespread.
This morning, lawyers for Prince Harry and former Labour MP Lord Tom Watson, the other remaining claimant, asked Mr Justice Fancourt to delay opening the case twice – meaning the court did not sit until 2pm.
