Harry at High Court; who are the ‘lesser known’ names that appeared in the Duke’s witness statement?

The first day of Harry’s time in London’s High Court is almost at an end, as the court have heard during his examination how the alleged repeat press intrusion led the Duke of Sussex to, in his words, “live up” to some of the names he was called throughout a myriad of headlines in tabloid newspapers.

Much attention throughout the day has been placed on the now-published witness statement that Harry delivered, which not only took pointed stabs at Piers Morgan, Paul Burrell and the media as a whole, but also took a moment to comment on the state of the UK government - a throw to his recent court battles regarding security detail while visiting the UK.

Some of the names in the witness statement read like a list of usual suspects; his father King Charles III (no doubt thankful to be in Transylvania currently, avoiding a media circus), brother Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, his friends Mark Dyer and Guy Pelly and his maternal grandmother, Frances Shand Kydd. 

Then there is one of Harry’s previous partners, Chelsy Davy, who Molly Paul gave an overview of earlier in the week, and no discussion about press inclusion could take place without bringing up Princess Diana - who Harry, alongside his uncle, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, still believe the press were responsible for her death.

But amongst the list of names on the witness statement were a few that perhaps people weren’t familiar with; so in the spirit of being thorough after Harry’s first day in court, Peopleworld takes a look at some of those names that might have been a mystery for some.

Who are some of the ‘lesser known’ names in Harry’s witness statement?

Helen Asprey

Helen Asprey is a notable figure who served as the Personal Private Secretary to Prince William and Prince Harry. Her role involved providing essential support and assistance to the Princes in their official capacities. Asprey worked closely with the Princes and played a crucial part in organising their activities and managing their schedules [2].

Asprey was a key member of the joint Household established for Prince William and Prince Harry, which served as the foundation for their future public, military, and charitable endeavours. The Household's offices were located in St James's Palace and maintained a close connection with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall's Household at Clarence House. 

Jamie Lowther Pinkerton

Before assuming the positions of Private Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as to Prince Harry, Lowther-Pinkerton had a distinguished military career in the British Army from 1979 to 1998. During his military service, he held noteworthy roles in the Irish Guards and the Special Air Service (SAS), showcasing his dedication and expertise in these elite units.

Following his retirement as a Major in 1998, Lowther-Pinkerton co-founded Objective Travel Safety, an organisation specialising in risk assessment training. In recognition of his contributions, Lowther-Pinkerton has received prestigious honours, including the Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Paddy Haverson

Paddy Haverson is a seasoned communications professional known for his association with the British royal family. Born with the full name Patrick Desmond Haverson, he has had a notable career working in various high-profile roles within the royal household. Haverson served as the official spokesman for Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, from 2004 to 2013. 

During this period, he played a pivotal role in managing media relations and shaping public perception of the Prince. Haverson's expertise and dedication to his role contributed to maintaining a positive image of Prince Charles and his charitable endeavours. He also worked closely with the media on major royal events, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

Thomas Inskip

Thomas Inskip, often referred to as Tom Inskip or "Skippy," is a childhood friend of Prince Harry and has been connected to the British royal family. He gained public attention due to his reported reservations about Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, prior to her marriage to Prince Harry. 

As described in the biography ‘Finding Freedom’, Inskip expressed concerns about the relationship and advised Prince Harry against marrying Meghan. This advice allegedly strained their friendship temporarily. Inskip and his wife were said to have been excluded from Harry and Meghan's evening wedding party, although it appears that they have since reconciled

Jamie Murray Wells

Jamie Murray Wells is a prominent entrepreneur and business leader known for his contributions to the retail industry. He gained recognition as the founder of Glasses Direct, Europe's largest online glasses retailer. While studying at university, Murray Wells launched the company, challenging industry norms by offering affordable glasses and a wide range of options to consumers. 

Under his leadership, Glasses Direct expanded its product offerings, acquiring SunglassesShop.com and LensOn.com and venturing into sunglasses and contact lens retail. The success of Glasses Direct led to its sale in 2013, and Murray Wells subsequently joined Google UK as the Industry Head of Retail. In addition to his professional achievements, Murray Wells has been actively involved in supporting entrepreneurship, serving as an advisor and co-founding initiatives such as StartUp Britain.