Prince Harry and the publisher of The Sun are “very close” to a settlement that could potentially avoid an imminent trial over alleged unlawful information-gathering, the High Court was told on Tuesday.
Harry and News Group Newspapers may ask the Court of Appeal for further time to continue discussions after a judge refused a bid to delay the start of the trial for a third time.
The Duke of Sussex 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 delayed twice to 2pm before a request was made by barristers for both sides for a third adjournment until 10am on Wednesday.
But Mr Justice Fancourt refused the request, stating the two sides had been given “ample time to seek to resolve their differences”.
Prince Harry and Sun in ‘complete agreement’ that discussions should happen
Requesting a third adjournment, Anthony Hudson KC, for NGN, said the parties “have been involved in very intense negotiations over the last few days and the reality is we are very close”, adding that there were “time difference difficulties”.
He said: “Very unusually, both parties are in complete agreement that this is a very important step.
“The number of times the parties have been in agreement in this litigation are very few and far between.
“Both parties feel they have no choice but to persist in this.”
He continued: “We do believe in the long run that this will give significant benefit to the court.
“For the sake of two hours, we are very concerned that if we don’t have these two hours, something that is capable of being achieved may not be achieved.
“The reason there is a real difficulty today is to do with time difference issues.
“These time difference difficulties will be resolved very shortly this afternoon and that is why we do suggest that if My Lord is willing to resume tomorrow at 10am, that could make a very significant difference to the parties.”
David Sherborne, for Harry and Lord Watson, said: “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 parties could now go to the Court of Appeal in a bid to challenge the decision not to allow a third adjournment.
Dismissing the request for a third delay, Mr Justice Fancourt said: “I made it clear this morning when granting the second adjournment that it would be the final adjournment. I see no reason to change my mind.
“I am not satisfied on the basis of what I have been shown so far that the trial should not proceed at this time and will therefore not allow the further adjournment.”
He then refused the parties permission to appeal against his decision, but 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.”
The High Court trial, which could last up to ten weeks, is currently set to resume at 10am on Wednesday.
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