Decade-old private Facebook messages exchanged by Prince Harry have resurfaced during the final stages of his High Court case against Associated Newspapers, adding a new dimension to the ongoing legal battle.
The messages, dating back to December 2011 and January 2012, reveal a friendly and informal rapport between Harry and journalist Charlotte Griffiths. In one of his opening messages, Harry introduced himself casually, writing, “It’s H, incase u were confused by name and picture!!! X.” Griffiths responded in a similarly playful tone, referencing a “fun weekend of naughtiness” and joking about countryside escapades.
In subsequent exchanges, Griffiths referred to him as “Mr Mischief,” prompting Harry to respond light-heartedly. He also shared snippets of his routine, mentioning social obligations such as attending dinners and raising funds for charity.
In another conversation dated January 22, 2012, Griffiths addressed him as “H bomb” and noted that he was missed at a gathering. Harry replied that he was occupied with Army duties in Cornwall, adding jokingly that he would otherwise have joined and “drunk u under the table.”
The messages also included a more personal tone, with Harry expressing that he missed their time together and noting he would be unavailable due to work commitments.
These exchanges have now been introduced as evidence in Harry’s lawsuit, where he has accused the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday of using unlawful methods—including phone hacking, surveillance, and deception—to obtain private information about him.
The defence, however, has argued that some of the information may have originated from individuals within Harry’s own social circle rather than through illegal means.
In her witness statement, Griffiths—now editor-at-large at the publication—said that she and Harry were part of the same London social circuit at the time and were acquainted. Harry has maintained that he was initially unaware of her profession as a journalist and distanced himself after learning about it.
Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, remains a central figure in the British royal family’s public narrative. The messages date from a period following his relationship with Chelsy Davy and before he began dating Cressida Bonas. He later married Meghan Markle in 2018.
With hearings now concluded, the court’s verdict is awaited in a case that continues to raise broader questions about media ethics, privacy rights, and the boundaries of journalism.