Prince Harry case against Sun publisher delayed

The opening time of Prince Harry's damages conflict against the owners of The Sun paper has been delayed aft it emerged that the 2 sides are progressive successful imaginable colony talks aft years of ineligible warfare.

The duke's lawyers were owed connected Tuesday to unfastened an eight-week proceedings of his allegations that journalists astatine News Group Newspapers utilized unlawful techniques to pry into his backstage beingness - and executives past allegedly covered it up.

Moments earlier they were to statesman presenting their case, they asked for an adjournment.

However, aft hours of concealed discussions, and nary motion of a last statement that could alteration the quality of the trial, the justice demanded that the 2 sides statesman - starring them some to accidental they would inquire the Court of Appeal to overturn that order.

The applicable effect of their objection is that the lawsuit has been delayed until astatine slightest 10am connected Wednesday - which means some sides person much clip to negotiate.

It's not wide what has been raised successful the 11th hr negotiations.

Prince Harry has repeatedly said helium wants a proceedings truthful that helium tin get "accountability" for different alleged victims of unlawful newsgathering of backstage accusation by NGN journalists.

NGN has denied determination was immoderate wrongdoing astatine The Sun oregon that executives crossed the radical covered it up.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned empire has agelong admitted that journalists astatine the News of the World, closed down successful 2011, did usage unlawful techniques but has ever denied that it was widespread.

This morning, lawyers for Prince Harry and erstwhile Labour MP Lord Tom Watson, the different remaining claimant, asked Mr Justice Fancourt to hold opening the lawsuit doubly - meaning the tribunal did not beryllium until 2pm.

David Sherborne, Prince Harry's barrister, said determination was perchance a "good prospect" of an statement that would prevention the tribunal time.

"We are precise close, determination is an contented with clip and gaining instructions," helium said.

"It is not the lone factor."

Anthony Hudson KC, for News Group Newspapers, added the parties needed much clip due to the fact that of "time differences" and said that some parties were progressive successful a "settlement dynamic".

Mr Justice Fancourt - who has repeatedly criticised some sides for agelong delays and spats implicit however the lawsuit should beryllium conducted - refused to springiness them much time, saying that the lawsuit should start, adjacent if determination were inactive talks down the scenes that could alteration the quality of the trial.

"I americium not persuaded that if determination is simply a existent volition to settee this that it could not person been done by today," said the judge.

News Group Newspapers' lawyers past asked for the tribunal to beryllium successful backstage - without the beingness of the media - to perceive much astir what was going on.

The justice refused, saying helium was not going to beryllium successful "secret" - and past some Prince Harry's squad and NGN's lawyers said they would inquire elder judges to overturn the bid to get underway.