Prince Harry has been accused by senior British journalist Charlotte Griffiths of placing a small white pill on her tongue during a country house gathering in 2011, allegations she made public following the Duke of Sussex's unsuccessful legal case against Associated Newspapers.
Griffiths, editor-at-large of the Mail on Sunday, claimed the incident took place when they first met during a shooting weekend in Hampshire. According to her, Harry placed a tablet in her mouth before telling her, "Now I know I can trust you." She said she later removed the pill discreetly and believed it was most likely paracetamol rather than an illegal substance.
The journalist made the claims in an article responding to evidence Harry gave during his recently concluded High Court case against Associated Newspapers. During the trial, Harry reportedly said he had only met Griffiths once and cut off contact after discovering she was a journalist.
Griffiths disputed that account, alleging they stayed in touch for several weeks after the gathering. She said they exchanged messages on Facebook, including communications from an account called "Spike Wells," which she claimed belonged to Prince Harry.
She also referred to messages in which Harry allegedly mentioned their "movie snuggles." Griffiths maintained that the phrase referred only to them sharing a blanket while watching a film with other guests present and insisted there was never a romantic relationship between them.
In addition, Griffiths alleged that Harry made the remark "Allahu akbar" during a film scene involving Islamic extremists. While she described the comment as inappropriate, she suggested it may have been influenced by his military service in Afghanistan.
The allegations surfaced after Prince Harry and six other claimants lost their High Court case against Associated Newspapers. The court ruled they had failed to prove claims that the publisher obtained information through unlawful methods.
Griffiths said the legal proceedings resulted in her private messages with Harry becoming public, exposing her to widespread online attention and abuse. A spokesperson for Prince Harry has reportedly been approached for comment, but no response had been issued at the time of reporting.