A five-day hearing began today in the First-tier Tribunal over the papers of Lord and Lady Mountbatten. The historian Andrew Lownie is seeking the release of the Mountbattens’ diaries and correspondence archived at Southampton University.
Mr Lownie first requested access to the documents in 2017 but was informed that they were sealed on advice of the Cabinet Office. The majority of the papers have since been released. The Information Commissioner ruled in 2019 that the entire archive should be released, but Southampton University and the Cabinet Office appealed. The appeal hearing and costs for the case will be heard during the course of this week.
There is coverage of the case in the Guardian and the Express.
Clara Hamer of 5RB is acting for Andrew Lownie.