Royal phone hacking scandal: Now investigating email hacks

While News International has admitted liability for its part in the phone hacking scandal, implicating some of the highest names in British society, police are now investigating whether email accounts have also been hacked into.

It is also believed that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who was recently married to the future king, Prince William, was also a victim of phone hacking. Former prime minister Tony Blair along with other senior politicians are all said to have fallen victim to the theft of confidential information, according to the Guardian.

It was discovered last night that the Scotland Yard phone hacking investigating team is now examining claims made by a BBC programme, that email hacking occurred by another leading tabloid newspaper, the Daily Mirror.

A Trojan horse programme is said to have been sent to a senior British intelligence officer in 2006, which copied emails and sent them back to the originating source.

Even more members of the Royal family, namely the Earl and Countess of Wessex have been implicated in the further alleged activities of hacking into their privately held television production company.

Prince Edward and his wife are said to have had their bank accounts accessed.

Jonathan Rees, who worked for the News of the World as well as the Daily Mirror, said via his lawyer that he had "made many legal enquiries" for many newspapers -- such as using the electoral roll and other registered information. He also accused the BBC of obtaining documents unlawfully.

Implications of another newspaper would not surprise many, as Lord Prescott, former deputy prime minister, said at the start of this year that "all newspapers were implicated".

Today, however, two senior politicians have contacted Scotland Yard, who are investigating the now wider hacking affair, to ask what information is held on current or previous investigations.

More on the Royal phone hacking scandal:

• Timeline of events (up to January)
• February 2011: ‘All newspapers’ are implicated
• February 2011: Police to reveal victims’ names
• April 2011: More journalists arrested
• April 2011: News International 'admits liability'