Daily Mail journalist denies seeking Prince Harry flight details
BBC World
March 2, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Rebecca English, the Daily Mail's royal editor, has denied seeking sensitive flight details for Prince Harry from freelance journalist Mike Behr during a trial investigating allegations of unlawful information gathering by the newspaper. The trial, which involves high-profile figures including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and Baroness Lawrence suing the Mail's publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), centers on claims that the publication breached privacy laws to obtain personal information about the duke.
English testified that she did not ask Behr for flight details and claimed the information about Prince Harry's trips with girlfriends, such as Chelsy Davy, came from other sources. She mentioned a contact at Leeds University who shared details about Davy's whereabouts after her term ended. English also denied receiving an email from Behr containing specific flight booking details, calling it "uncharacteristic" of their communication and stating she had a strained relationship with him.
The trial has revealed emails where Behr provided precise flight schedules for Prince Harry, including his arrival in Cape Town and travel to London for Christmas. David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, argued that this demonstrated the newspaper's access to sensitive information about the duke's private life. English countered by claiming the details were already circulating among other newspapers, and she emphasized that her sources for stories were legitimate contacts rather than Behr.
The case highlights broader concerns about privacy breaches involving royal figures and the practices of tabloid journalism. Prince Harry has alleged that the Mail obtained personal information through unlawful means, such as blagging—illegal tactics to gather sensitive details. English's defense focuses on the legality of her sources and the lack of direct involvement in seeking out Behr for flight data.
This trial is significant because it examines how media outlets acquire information about public figures and whether such practices cross legal boundaries. The outcome could set a precedent for privacy law enforcement, particularly in cases involving high-profile individuals whose personal lives are often subject to intense media scrutiny. For readers interested in world news and privacy rights, the case underscores the ongoing tension between press freedom and individual privacy, especially in contexts involving royalty and celebrities.
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Originally published on BBC World on 3/2/2026