The Duke of Sussex has revealed he was “extremely worried” at the prospect of being expelled from Eton following reports in the tabloid press that he was using drugs.

Harry was giving evidence in his individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, over allegations of widespread wrongdoing between 1991 and 2011.

During his hours-long cross-examination on the witness stand since 10.30am, MGN’s lawyer Andrew Green KC turned to a Sunday Mirror article published in January 2002 entitled “Harry took drugs”.

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The barrister said it was the News Of The World newspaper that “broke the story” about the young prince smoking cannabis.

“The untrue story, yes,” Harry replied.

In his witness statement, the fifth-in-line to the throne said the News Of The World’s coverage of this story “had a huge impact on my life”.

“Eton had a zero drugs policy in place, and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled,” he said.

He added: “These articles were also written at a time when there had been an agreement between the press and the Royal Family, following the death of my mother, that my brother and I should be able to go through our education without constant scrutiny and interruption.

“It seemed to me there was never any let up in the press coverage of every detail of my childhood, by the defendant’s journalists and others.”

Mr Green said the News Of The World had contacted Harry‘s father’s office about the story, and “the palace” had “cooperated” with the coverage via “spin doctor” Mark Bolland.

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When asked whether this was the source of information in the Sunday Mirror, Harry said: “I wasn’t the one that wrote the article so you will have to ask the journalists.”

The duke added that the incident was “less about what’s in the story itself” but “the activity behind the scenes”, referring to the alleged use of private investigators to secure information.

Harry ‘didn’t have a mobile in 1996’

Mr Green went on to argue that Prince Harry’s phone could not have been hacked when one of the articles was published as he did not have a mobile phone at the time.

He said the duke was first given a mobile phone when he went to Eton in 1998 – but the article, headlined “Diana so sad”, was written in 1996.

Asked whether he had a mobile at the time the article was written, Harry indicates he cannot remember for sure as it was “years ago”.

Mr Green said if Harry did not have a mobile at the time, it could not have been hacked by an MGN journalist.

But the royal said his mother, Princess Diana, would call him while he was at Eton using a landline phone.

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The barrister said this still meant a journalist had not hacked his mobile.

“I can’t be sure,” Harry said.

Mr Green said Harry did not identify in his witness statement anyone else’s phone who could have been hacked to gain information for the article.

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The duke then suggested it could have been his mother who was hacked, prompting Mr Green to quip: “That’s just speculation you’ve come up with now.”

Harry is suing MGN for damages, accusing journalists at its titles of being linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, as well as the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

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He briefly smiled as he arrived at the Rolls Building on Tuesday morning, where a throng of journalists and a strong police presence awaited him.

Proceedings are due to conclude by the end of June, with Mr Justice Fancourt expected to give his written ruling later in the year.

Harry in Court – Watch the special programme on Sky News tonight at 9pm

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