Court Hears of Ectopic Pregnancy Story Probe

In the High Court, a former diary editor for The Mail on Sunday has denied "blagging" medical information concerning Sadie Frost's 2003 ectopic pregnancy for an unpublished story. This development is part of a larger legal battle where Prince Harry, Baroness Lawrence, Sir Elton John, and others are suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering. ANL strongly refutes these accusations.

The editor testified that a freelance journalist provided the tip for the ectopic pregnancy story, originating from a reliable source. She explicitly stated she never used enquiry agents to obtain sensitive medical details, clarifying that her attempt to contact Ms. Frost was to "second source" the story and give her an opportunity to respond. The decision not to publish was based on Ms. Frost's denial and the sensitive nature of the medical story.

Furthermore, the journalist is named in Prince Harry's claim regarding seven articles he alleges resulted from unlawful information gathering. She stated her sources were reliable contacts and friends with intimate knowledge of his social life. One article discussed Prince Harry's godchild, with the journalist mentioning possible conversations with Lady Elizabeth Anson, a confidante of the late Queen and friend of Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

The trial, presided over by Mr. Justice Nicklin, is expected to conclude this month, with a written judgment to follow.