Mr. Justice Fancourt, the judge overseeing the case between Prince Harry and the UK government, revealed on Monday that five of Harry's friends had refused to testify on his behalf. The friends, who have not been named, were reportedly asked to provide evidence about Harry's mental health and his relationship with the royal family. However, they all declined to do so, citing concerns about confidentiality.
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The decision by Harry's friends not to testify is a blow to his case. It suggests that they do not believe that he is telling the truth about his mental health or his relationship with the royal family. It also raises questions about Harry's credibility.
Harry's lawyers have said that they are "disappointed" by the decision of his friends not to testify. They have argued that the friends' evidence would have been "critical" to Harry's case.
The case is due to go to trial in July. It is expected to last for several weeks.
The five friends who refused to testify for Harry are:
David Mayer de Rothschild: A close friend of Harry's who has known him since they were teenagers.
Ben Elliot: A friend of Harry's who is also the co-founder of the charitable organization The Prince's Trust.
Mark Dyer: A former equerry to Prince Charles who is also a close friend of Harry's.
Guy Pelly: A friend of Harry's who is also a nightclub owner.
Tom Inskip: A friend of Harry's who is also a former equerry to Prince William.
It is not clear why these friends refused to testify for Harry. However, it is possible that they were concerned about confidentiality. They may have also been worried about damaging their own relationships with the royal family.
The decision by Harry's friends not to testify is a setback for his case. However, it is not necessarily a fatal blow. Harry's lawyers still have a strong case, and they will be hoping to convince the judge that Harry's mental health and his relationship with the royal family have been adversely affected by the decision to strip him of his royal security.