New details have emerged about Kate Middleton’s first pregnancy. New outlets report on the reasoning behind the secrecy that surrounded the first pregnancy of the Princess of Wales.
© i ImagesPrince William and Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London
During testimony at the High Court of Justice, journalist Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large of the Mail on Sunday, revealed she learned about the pregnancy days before it was made public and chose not to publish the information.
Griffiths explained that she did not want to “cross a line,” even though the story would have been a major scoop for the newspaper.
A private moment that could have been a headline
The testimony came during an ongoing legal case involving several high-profile figures, including Prince Harry, who are suing Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail, over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
The group bringing the lawsuit also includes Elton John, David Furnish, and Elizabeth Hurley. The publisher has denied any wrongdoing.
According to Griffiths’ testimony, the revelation happened during a private weekend gathering in the countryside in late 2012. She had been invited by friends and was attending in a personal capacity.
© Getty ImagesWhy Kate Middleton’s first pregnancy was kept secret: new details emerge in court
At the time, Prince William reportedly arrived at the event alone and mentioned that Kate could not attend because she was suffering from morning sickness. The comment suggested that the royal couple were expecting their first child.
Griffiths told the court that the information would have been “huge news,” but she decided not to report it because it came from a private social setting.
“I lost a scoop to maintain my friendships and because I knew where the line was and chose not to cross it,” she explained in a written statement.
The pregnancy was officially confirmed days later by St James’s Palace, after Kate was admitted to the hospital suffering from severe morning sickness.
© Getty ImagesKate Middleton and Prince William on why they have ‘more room to breathe’ with her parents
Questions about relationships with the royal family
During her testimony, Griffiths also addressed claims about her connections to members of the royal family.
She acknowledged having occasionally socialized in circles that included Prince William and Prince Harry, but insisted that she’d always maintained a strict separation between her professional work and private life.
Griffiths also rejected accusations that she had ever hacked phones or used private investigators to obtain information for stories.
At one point in the hearing, lawyers referenced phone records showing a late-night call and several text messages exchanged between Griffiths and Prince Harry in June 2012.
She explained that the contact occurred during a social gathering when she was trying to reach a friend’s house, where Harry happened to be present.
“I have never hacked or intercepted a phone,” she told the court. The trial is expected to conclude in March, with a written ruling to follow.
© WireImagePrince William and Kate Middleton share three kids: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis