Harry broke confidentiality rules in doomed court case

THE Duke of Sussex was forced to apologise after breaking confidentiality rules in his own High Court case by sharing private information with Johnny Mercer.

Court documents reveal that Prince Harry emailed the veterans minister confidential information concerning his security claim against the Home Office.

The Duke has long shared a close bond with Mr Mercer, both of whom served in Afghanistan.

Mr Mercer is a vocal supporter of the Invictus Games and is spearheading the Government’s attempt to host the 2027 event in Birmingham.

The pair were photographed drinking beer together at last year’s event in Dusseldorf.

Mr Justice Lane revealed the Duke’s indiscretion in a costs ruling handed down yesterday concerning his failed application for a judicial review of the decision to remove his right to automatic police protection when he moved abroad.

The judge said: “In November 2023, the claimant breached the terms of the confidentiality ring order by emailing certain information to a partner of Schillings, who was not within the confidentiality ring, and to the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP.”

The breach was almost immediately detected by the Duke’s own barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, who promptly informed his solicitor, Jenny Afia, who works for Schillings.

“She in turn informed the defendant (via the Government Legal Department) as well as taking action to minimise the effects of the breach,” the judge said.

The Home Office argued that such breaches, for which the judge said the Duke had apologised, caused it to incur unnecessary costs.

The judge said he did not wish to minimise the “seriousness” of the breach but concluded that it did not have any bearing on the overall determination of costs.

The Duke’s claim on police protection was dismissed in February after two-and-a-half years of legal wrangling.

Mr Justice Lane insisted that the decision made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) had not been irrational or procedurally unfair.

As well as roundly rejecting his application to appeal the ruling, the judge also dismissed his request to pay just 40 per cent of the Government’s costs, which exceeded £500,000.

The judge ordered him instead to pay 90 per cent, stating that his submissions relied upon “a great deal of unsupported speculation”.

The Duke’s total legal bill is likely to top £1 million.

He is likely to seek to further challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.