Prince Harry blames press for losing Chelsy Davy’s love: ‘Prying eyes’

Prince Harry blames press for losing Chelsy Davy’s love: ‘Prying eyes’

The one who got away?

Prince Harry is blaming “the prying eyes of the tabloids” for the end of his Chelsy Davy romance more than a decade ago.

The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex called the UK papers “the main factor” in his split from the Zimbabwe-born businesswoman, according to written testimony filed Tuesday to the High Court in London.

The couple met in early 2004, according to Harry, and dated on and off until mid-2010.

“Our relationship was long distance for the majority of the time we were together, with Chelsy and I often living in different countries, so we relied on communicating by phone a lot,” Harry said in a written statement obtained by the New York Times.


Prince Harry and then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy attend a service of remembrance and thanksgiving at the Holy Trinity Church on May 5 2008 in Windsor.
Prince Harry and then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy attend a service of remembrance and thanksgiving at the Holy Trinity Church on May 5, 2008, in Windsor. WireImage
Harry departs after giving evidence at the Mirror Group Phone hacking trial at the Rolls Building at High Court on June 6 in London.
Harry departs after giving evidence at the Mirror Group phone hacking trial at the Rolls Building at High Court in London on June 6, 2023.WireImage

He continued: “We, naturally, spoke about all types of personal matters, including all aspects of our relationship and this was often through voicemail. As my girlfriend, I trusted Chelsy with the most private of information and vice versa.”

The Post has contacted reps for Harry for comment.

The red-headed royal is suing Mirror Group Newspapers Unlimited for allegedly hacking his phone and using “illegal interception of voicemail messages” to obtain information for its news stories for more than a decade, starting in the 1990s.


Prince Harry (L) and Chelsy Davy attend the friendly international rugby union match between England and Australia at Twickenham in London on Nov. 7, 2009.
Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy attend the friendly international rugby union match between England and Australia at Twickenham in London on Nov. 7, 2009. REUTERS

Harry claims that the former couple’s phone conversations were not attributed to any sources.

“So how could the Defendant’s journalists know about this?” he asked in his statement.


Prince Harry's UK court battle: Royal says tabloids were 'main factor' for breakup with ex Chelsy Davy
A courtroom sketch of Harry at the High Court in London.via REUTERS

One story involved Davy giving him “a tongue-lashing down the phone” for flirting with another woman at a party, while another was “an emotional phone call” about a trial separation.

He said vacation details also leaked, prompting journalists and photographers to arrive at their hotel off the coast of Mozambique before they did.


Harry and Chelsy Davy kiss whilst sitting in the Royal Box as they attend the Cartier International Polo Match at Guards Polo Club, Smith's Lawn on July 30, 2006, in Egham, England.
Harry and Chelsy Davy kiss while sitting in the Royal Box as they attend the Cartier International Polo Match at Guards Polo Club on July 30, 2006, in Egham, England.Getty Images

He also admitted these revelations resulted in the former couple shrinking their circle of trustworthy friends.

“Every time these kinds of stories were published, there was a strain put on our relationship, we started to distrust everyone around us,” he wrote.

But one of the publisher’s lawyers, Andrew Green, argued in court that “there was no need for the Daily Mirror journalists to use unlawful means” because other outlets had published information about Harry.


Prince Harry leaves court after MGN phone hacking trial.
Prince Harry leaves court amid the phone hacking trial.ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Prince Harry's UK court battle: Royal says tabloids were 'main factor' for breakup with ex Chelsy Davy
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now married with two kids.Alexi Lubomirski / Duke and Duchess of Sussex

For his part, Harry married former “Suits” actress Meghan Markle, 41, in 2018. They left the royal family in January 2020 and now live in California with their two kids: Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2.

Davy, 37, and hotelier Sam Cutmore-Scott welcomed their son, Leo, in early 2022. They married later that year.