The messages were released as part of Prince Harry’s phone-hacking case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publishers of The Sun, and the defunct News Of The World.
According to court documents, Palace officials negotiating with the support of the Queen threatened to hire solicitors to secure a private phone-hacking settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN).
After getting “frustrated” with Rupert Murdoch’s top news executives’ inaction in 2018, palace staff recommended legal specialists.
They sent emails expressing an “institutional appetite” to settle out-of-court with the group over allegations that the now-defunct News Of The World compromised the phones of royal family members.
In the messages, palace officials disclosed that the Queen was “aware” of the discussions and had granted her “complete authority.”
The emails were presented in court as part of Prince Harry’s claim against NGN. Which also publishes The Sun, for allegedly illegal information collection at its two titles.
On Tuesday, the group began a three-day hearing in London to reject Harry’s case and Hugh Grant’s.
NGN contends that the claims were filed too late.
Sally Osman, Rebekah Brooks, and Robert Thomson, News Corporation’s CEO, exchanged emails in December 2017.
In an email, Ms. Osman conveyed a desire to “draw a line under such matters between our two institutions”
“The fact that we can have this conversation, with The Queen’s full authority and knowledge of the extent. And impact of hacking and surveillance on her family, their staff, associates, friends, and family, is crucial with a view to a speedy resolution,” she added.
Ms. Osman voiced “disappointment” after organising a meeting in March 2018.
She wrote: “Assuming you received my email of December 11, 2012, following our very cordial. I thought, productive meeting, I was somewhat dismayed not to receive an acknowledgment, much less a response.
Of course, I understand that business is hectic. However, there is also a growing sense of annoyance at the Royal Household’s and News Corporation’s lack of response or willingness to negotiate a resolution to what is considered an outstanding business.
“The hope is still to find a resolution without involving lawyers.”
Ms. Brooks and Mr. Thomson apologised for missing the email, citing his busy schedule and “mountain” of daily notes.
Ms. Osman, however, pushed for a resolution once more in May. Expressing an “institutional desire to expedite things and begin a more concrete dialogue.”
She added, “We are still adamant that we do not want this to become entangled in legal negotiations. But it would certainly help if our lawyers spoke with yours.”
On Thursday, Harry’s attorney, David Sherborne, stated in court that the late Queen was involved in “discussions and authorization” that the Royal Family would not pursue claims against NGN until the conclusion of the hacking litigation.
Mr. Sherborne wrote that the arrangement “meant that the plaintiff could not sue NGN for phone hacking at the time.”
He added, “After the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation (MTVIL), News will either admit or settle the claim with an apology.”
In 2017, the claimant and the institution initiated efforts to resolve the outstanding claim.
“However, News filibustered regarding this until 2019, when the claimant decided he had had enough and filed his claim.”
The attorney informed the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Fancourt, that Harry knew in 2012 that “an agreement had been reached between the institution and News Group.”
He added, “It is precisely because of the secret agreement that no claim was brought before 2019.”
Harry’s solicitors also contend that NGN’s attempt to have his claim dismissed is an attempt to circumvent the “secret agreement.”
Mr. Sherborne also informed the court that Prince William, Harry’s sibling, had recently settled his claim against NGN.
The court will decide Friday if their claims will go to trial in January.
The Duke of Sussex, who appeared in person at the High Court last month for a preliminary hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of The Mail and Mail On Sunday, is currently pursuing multiple legal actions.
He is anticipated to testify in Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN)’s illegal information trial in June.
The News of the World was shut down in 2011 as a result of the phone-hacking scandal. But NGN has consistently denied that any illegal information gathering occurred at The Sun.
