Royal Editor Pleads Guilty to Snooping
The Royal Editor of the News of the World, Britain’s top selling Sunday newspaper pleaded guilty yesterday of hacking into the voicemail system in Prince Charles’ office.
Clive Goodman, 48, was arrested after members of the Prince’s household reported apparent security breaches in the telephone system.
Another tabloid journalist, pleaded guilty to the same charge, plus five further charges of unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages.
The court heard that other victims of the spying included model Elle Macpherson and Simon Hughes, a Member of Parliament.
Goodman’s lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry, said : “He wishes through me to take the first opportunity to apologize publicly to those affected by his actions. He accepts they were a gross invasion of privacy and Mr. Goodman accepts that this characterization is correct. He therefore apologizes unreservedly to the three members of the royal household staff concerned and their principals, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales.”
Tom Bradby, ITN’s Political Editor reported that suspicions were aroused when the News of the World printed details of a planned private meeting between himself and Prince William. They realized someone must have listened to their phone messages and William’s Chief of Staff contacted the police.
Such is the value of a juicy Royal story that reporters will go to any lengths to get them, even bribing Palace staff with large sums of money, or infiltrating the Palace by getting jobs as footmen or catering staff.
Poor Clive.The story that actually betrayed him,was William pretending to be Chelsy,living a message to Harry with a girlie voice but the press dont mention that,it made William look too girlie.I will miss his articles on William.I wonder why he called him and guy the “shirtlifters” of the rugby team?Or William a cheerleader,in his tour with the Lions in NewZealand?I believe he heard alot more than he published and he knows alot more that he says,thats why he was caught.He is threatened so i guess we wont hear any revelation from him in the future.He will either become a Fan of Charles and Camilla or never write on a paper again.Thats how good column writers are ending up lately.Thank God we still have PeterMckay in the Daily Mail to read.
John For the moment i believed this was the new Christmas card,hehehehhe,with no Cams in it.I wonder what pic this year?Isnt time the litle boys start sending their own Christmas card?Charles started alot younger to send his.
By Shake on November 30th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Ha! Peter McKay? I’m a great fan of his. Now there is a real journalist.
Do you know Clive Goodman in person, Shake?
By John on November 30th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Realy?I love Peter,his humor is so hard to understand.
By Shake on November 30th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
All Scotsmen are hard to understand. Comes from the fact they speak a dialect of old Anglo-Saxon — and they don’t know it.
By John on November 30th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
I love him cause he is very blunt,and writes it as it is.He hasnt become a kissass to Charles,Camilla and William.
By Shake on November 30th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
By the way i refered to the relationship beetween journalists and the Royals,and especialy William and Harry.This article its another proof of whatever the spin says,they are using each other and the Royals are close with some of them.You see how William has a close friendship with this Journalist?That fairytale that he hates the press and the Royal reporters is just for sale,to touch hearts of the people who think,poor Willie he hates the press that tortured his parents.Just a fairytale.They use each other.They protect each other/The press knows so much more about William.They dont report it.
By Shake on November 30th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Shake, I’m actually starting to lean towards what you’re saying…
By Ziny on December 1st, 2006 at 12:11 am
What goes around!!
By Trudie on December 1st, 2006 at 2:40 am
Tom Bradby, the political editor of ITV, has been a Royal TV reporter. He travelled with Harry during his African adventures and knows both Princes. He’s a published novelist of thrillers and fairly young. The Princes obviously get on well with him.
I don’t think this shows that William and the press are hand in glove at all.
By John on December 1st, 2006 at 10:24 am
I know who he is/Having Williams personal phone it means they have a close relation.By the way he didnt traveled with Harry in AFrica,he joined Harry for a week and helped him during the making of his documentary.I just gave you an example how WIlliam works.When it suits him,he is close to them,when it doestn oh poor boy he hates them.
By shake on December 1st, 2006 at 10:41 am
Who are the two guys in the photo? Any of Charles illegitimate children? - Just kidding! I used to read Peter McKay alot and liked his columns. I had no idea he was Scottish- its no wonder I like him. Clive should write for an American paper- he would not be sensored and he still would be able to continue writing in his own style. I am sure he would be most appreciated- even for NY’s page six! I hope he starts writing again- regardless of what happened.
By ann l. on December 1st, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Ann, Clive Goodman wasn’t “censored”, he was found guilty in a court of law of tapping into someone else’s voicemail. Even the police have to get permission from a Judge before they can do that. It’s not really about his style at all.
By John on December 1st, 2006 at 3:03 pm
The other two in the picture are children’s TV presenters, Ant and Dec, who interviewed the three Princes at Highgrove.
By John on December 1st, 2006 at 3:04 pm
As always- thanks for the info John! Have you heard about reports regarding a 200,000 PW and PH plan on spending at a private bash next week in London? Would this be in addition to HM’s last-of-the-year birthday party with her close friends and fam? Any chance this is Peter’s engagement/wedding party? Also Kate’s new job- when did this happen? She was away on vacation again and then seen shopping and putting her garbage out the same day. Where does she find the time? (I’m not bashing- just asking.) Sorry for all the questions!
By ann l. on December 1st, 2006 at 3:16 pm