Prince Harry’s privacy trial against the publishers of The Sun was due to start at 10:30am today, but has been twice delayed.
Prince Harry’s lawyers have been a refused a third request to delay the start of the trial (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry’s lawyers attempted to secure a third delay to the start of his trial against the publishers of The Sun, but the judge has rejected the request.
Harry, and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson, are suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering.
NGN, which also ran the now-defunct News Of The World, denies any unlawful activity took place at The Sun.
The trial was due to start at 10.30am on Tuesday but was pushed back to 11.30am after a request from both sides, and then delayed again to 2pm following a second request.
Mr Sherbourne requested a third delay, but this was rejected by Mr Justice Fancourt.
Mr Sherborne said: “Having spoken with Mr Hudson (Anthony Hudson KC, counsel for NGN), on behalf of both of us we would like to ask Your Lordship for more time.
“We don’t do that lightly, as I am sure Your Lordship appreciates, but we do believe that with a couple of hours more today that, that given the progress that has been made between the parties, that that hopefully may be productive for the overall timetable of the trial.
“I can’t say more about it at this stage. In the circumstances, there is only so much I can say, but Mr Hudson and I would not be asking for further time if we did not think it stood any prospect of potentially saving a lot of court time.”
The trial at the Rolls Building in London, due to last several weeks, is now due to start later on Tuesday.
The Duke of Sussex, Lord Watson and NGN have now made a joint bid to ask for permission to appeal against the decision of Mr Justice Fancourt to not allow a third adjournment.
Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said: “Both parties are in complete agreement… The number of times the parties have been in agreement in this litigation are very few and far between.”
Mr Hudson said the legal teams for both sides “have been involved in very intense negotiations over the last few days and the reality is we are very close”.
Both sides could appeal the judge’s decision at the High Court.
Mr Justice Fancourt said: “I’m not going to stand in the way of access to justice if the parties wish to go to the Court of Appeal.”
