In a surprising turn of events, a trove of private Facebook messages exchanged between Prince Harry and a former Mail on Sunday journalist has been brought to light during the closing arguments of the Duke of Sussex’s privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers. The texts, dated between December 2011 and January 2012, reveal a playful side of the prince that many of his fans have never seen before. They also underscore the broader legal battle over privacy rights that has kept the royal family in the public eye for months.
The Hidden Texts: A Glimpse into a Decade‑Old Conversation
According to court documents, the messages were sent via Facebook Messenger, a platform that was still in its early days of widespread use. Prince Harry, then 41, and Charlotte Griffiths, a 40‑year‑old journalist for the Mail on Sunday, exchanged a series of flirtatious remarks that included nicknames such as “sugar” and “H bomb.” The prince’s playful moniker for Griffiths—“Mr. Mischief”—and her affectionate reference to “movie snuggles” paint a picture of a light‑hearted relationship that existed outside the public eye.
One of the earliest messages, dated December 4, 2011, read: “It’s H, incase u were confused by name and picture!!! X.” Griffiths replied with a teasing tone: “What a fun weekend of naughtiness – can’t we all get up to no good in the countryside every weeked damn it?? Smooches.” The exchange continued with the prince asking how he earned the “Mr. Mischief” title, while Griffiths humorously complained about having to “make polite conversation with strange people at a dinner” and “begging them for money for charity.”
In a later message from January 22, 2012, Griffiths called Harry “H bomb” and noted, “we missed you so much at Arthur’s last week.” While the reference to “Arthur” is unclear, it suggests that the two were part of a social circle that included other friends or colleagues. The texts also contain a heartfelt apology from the prince: “I WISH I was there sugar but unfortunately stuck in Cornwall doing Army stuff,” he wrote, adding a sad face emoji. He continued, “Otherwise I would have been there playing and then drinking u under the table, obvi!!” The tone is unmistakably playful and intimate.
The Legal Context: A Privacy Battle with the Daily Mail
These messages surfaced during the closing hearing of Prince Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The case centers on the alleged invasion of privacy and the publication of private conversations without consent. The court has been examining whether the texts, which were private and personal, were rightfully protected under UK privacy laws.
During the hearing, the judge
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