Speaking from the stands in High Court, Prince Harry has said his relationship with TV presenter, Natalie Pinkham broke down due to his distrust, which the Duke alleged came from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday publishing “knowingly false” information. Natalie Pinkham was a television presenter and Formula 1 pitlane reporter working for Sky Sports F1.

The Duke of Sussex explained that the publication’s information led to him “not speaking to [Ms Pinkham] for years”. An article from 2002 about his friendship with Ms Pinkham, published by Mail on Sunday journalist Katie Nicholl, came under question in court.

The ANL’s barrister said the information inside it came from Ms Pinkham herself, following a phone call with the journalist. Harry replied: “I strongly reject that”, arguing Ms Pinkham knew who Ms Nicholl was, and while a conversation over the phone unfolded, she did not give her any information for a story.

The duke accuses the journalist of “inventing quotes for the narrative” and continues to strongly deny that Ms Pinkham and Ms Nicholl had a good relationship.

Harry added: “I believe that Natalie Pinkham’s number was obtained unlawfully through UIG [unlawful information gathering].”

Associate Newspapers Limited’s (ANL) barrister, Antony White KC, told the court yesterday that ANL “strongly denies” that there was any unlawful information gathering.

In written submissions, ANL said that the articles in the case “were sourced entirely legitimately from information variously provided by contacts of the journalists responsible, including individuals in the Duke of Sussex’s social circle, press officers and publicists, freelance journalists, photographers and prior reports”.

The Duke of Sussex has returned to a court in London for the fourth day of the trial of his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

A spokesperson for the Duke said on Wednesday evening that he would attend court again on Thursday “to support, and show solidarity with, the other claimants”.

The Duke, 41, is one of seven people, including Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Liz Hurley, suing the publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

ANL strongly denies wrongdoing and is defending the claims.