The Duke of Sussex has been outed during his privacy court case to exchanging ‘familiar’ messages with a female journalist who referred to him as “Mr Mischief”.
Harry had denied to the High Court in London that he was friends with any journalists, but a series of alleged Facebook exchanges with Charlotte Griffiths were made public on the final day of his trial.
They appear to show the Mail on Sunday journalist referring to Harry as “Mr Mischief” and “H Bomb” – and mentioned their “fun weekend of naughtiness”.
Harry seemed to call the Griffiths “sugar” and “Griff”, and wrote, “Miss our movie snuggles!!”
The duke, giving evidence in the trial in January, said: “I am not friends with any of these journalists.”
He was claiming that a series of stories published in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday could only have come from phone hacking and/or bugging – not ay relationship with the media.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Image: X
Prince Harry and Charlotte Griffiths ‘friendship’
Griffiths admitted in court that she joined Harry at a weekend country house party in 2011 hosted by Arthur Landon, a film producer who is one of the prince’s oldest friends.
She added that she continued to “socialise in similar high society circles ever since”, including attending polo events.
Griffiths joined the Mail on Sunday in 2008, was diary editor from 2013 to 2020 and is now editor-at- large. She said her friendship with Harry continued and in June 2012 she was invited to join an all-night party where he would also be in attendance.
Griffiths was questioned about a call to Harry at 2:50am and three text message exchanges. Griffiths told the court she went to a club with Landon who invited her back to his home for an “after party”.
“Arthur hadn’t made it home by the time I arrived but told me Prince Harry was staying at the flat and that the party had already started under Prince Harry’s watch,” she said in a written witness statement.
Harry told the High Court: “The first time I met Ms Griffiths was actually at a friend’s weekend and I had no idea that she was a journalist at that time.”
Asked if Griffiths socialised with his friends, Harry replied: “Not as far as I’m aware. I met her once at a weekend, and then the next day, after I’d left, after the weekend had finished, I found out who she was. I had words with my friend and that was that.”
The 41-year-old added: “The only time I’ve met her was at that weekend with Mr Landon and, as I said, I had no idea who she was.” He said he “cut contact with her” after finding out she worked for the Mail.
Harry and Sir Elton John, and five other high-profile figures, have brought for unlawful information gathering case against Associated Newspapers, who are accused of phone hacking and bugging communication devices.
Messages between Prince Harry and Charlotte Griffiths filed in court
Dec 4, 2011 8:36pm
Facebook user: It’s H, incase u were confused by name and picture!!! X.
Charlotte Griffiths: Hello Mr Mischief … What a fun weekend of naughtiness – can’t we all get up to no good in the countryside every weekend damn it?? Smooches, CG String. Xxx
Dec 5, 2011 1:20am
Facebook user: Was without doubt the best of those weekends I’ve been to. What a crowd. Never laughed so much in 24hrs!! Mr mischief? How do I get that title… l was surely no worse than anyone else!!
Dec 5, 2011 4:15pm
Charlotte Griffiths: Mr Mischief is definitely a compliment by the way – you weren’t worse than anyone else, we all competitively out-naughtied each other which is why we all had so much fun!
Dec 6, 2011 12:17pm
Charlotte Griffiths: OK. I am very unimpresed that your Skippy surfing seems to have inadvertantly trumped all of the scandal on our weekend! Damn you, you bloody maverick. And now you’re all heading to BVI. Double trumped, double humph. Thirsty Thursday plans? X
Dec 14, 2011 7:34pm
Facebook user: Haha, I win right?! Me noo heading to the BVl’s, got too much shit to do. Got a dinner with some friends… gonna be hungover again for the third day running! U missed a good party last night, skippy was on great form. Mwah xxx
Dec 15, 2011 3pm
Charlotte Griffiths: H Bomb – we missed you so much at Arthur’s last week… ive arrived in klosters and been watching some Sentebale snow polo… does that mean you’re here and I can dominate you off the black runs – slash steal one of your ski boots?! xxxx
Jan 22, 2012 10:26pm
Facebook user: Haha, Chartie I WISH I was there sugar but unfortunately stuck in Cornwall doing Army stuff 🙁 Otherwise I would have been there playing and then drinking u under the table, obvi!! The whole thing raised a load of money so I’m pretty happy, just wish I could have been there… especially now you’re there!
Hope you’re really well Griff… Miss our movie snuggles!! I’m off comms all week incase u think I’m being rude…xxx xxx
Top image: Pince Harry, Charlotte Griffiths. Image: Instagram