Royal Bombshell: Prince Harry's Court Testimony Delayed Due to Lilibet's Birthday

Prince Harry WPA Pool/Shutterstock

During his trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Prince Harry is already creating a stir in court. As per the Associated Press, Harry's lawyer David Sherborne revealed that the prince was unable to attend the opening statements on June 5th due to his travel from Los Angeles to the UK. This was after he had celebrated his daughter Lilibet's second birthday on June 4th. The judge expressed surprise at Harry's absence, as he was expected to be in court on Monday in case the opening statements concluded before the end of the session.

According to Sherborne, his client stands apart from the other three claimants based on his unique travel and security arrangements. He has confirmed that his client will be present in court to testify on Tuesday, June 6. In response to Harry's absence on Monday, The Mirror's legal team accused him of wasting the court's time and expressed their deep concern over his failure to show up. Lawyer Andrew Green labeled Harry's absence as "absolutely extraordinary."

Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their son Archie, made the decision to relocate to America in 2020 after resigning from their positions as active members of the royal family. The couple has spoken openly about their struggles with the British media, citing this as a key factor in their decision to distance themselves from the U.K. In fact, Harry has accused the Mirror Group of obtaining information about him through illegal phone hacking, which has been used to write stories about him throughout the years. In court on Monday, Sherborne argued that the defendant believed the ends justified the means and that nothing was off-limits when it came to gathering information in an unlawful manner.

Mirror Group has refuted any claims of using phone hacking to cover news on Harry. Instead, they have stated that their journalists employed legal reporting techniques such as examining public statements, documents, and insiders to write about the ex-military pilot. The publishing group has also previously acknowledged and apologized for utilizing a private investigator for their article, "Sex on the beach with Harry," back in 2004. Harry's forthcoming testimony will make him the first senior member of the royal family in over a century to give evidence in court.

"As a member of this family, I believe it is my responsibility to expose the corruption and bribery that exists within our media industry. This is a matter of duty and service," stated Harry in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, Harry & Meghan. The tragic death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997 due to a car accident involving photographers has left a lasting impact on both Harry and his brother, Prince William, who were just 12 and 15 years old at the time."

Harry shared on the show that most of his memories consist of being mobbed by paparazzi. He also mentioned that the advice he received from within the family and the system was to not react or give them any attention. However, the constant public pressure came with its own set of challenges, including drama, stress, and tears. He vividly remembers seeing his mother cry due to the relentless media scrutiny. In those moments, he would question his identity and his place in the world.