The Kate Middleton phone hacking investigation has provided an unwelcome look into the private lives of the Duchess of Cornwall and her husband, Prince William. Voicemails left for Kate in 2006 by her then boyfriend were hacked by the News of the World to spin salacious news stories, the phone-hacking trial has heard.

Prince William Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton And Prince William Unwittingly Underwent An Invasive String Of Phone Hacking.

William can be heard frequently referring to his lover as "babykins" or "baby" as he tells her what he's been up to whilst undergoing officer training at Sandhurst. One message revealed a training incident when William was almost shot with blanks. "Hi baby. Um, sorry, I've just got back in off my night navigation exercise," William said, adding "I've been running around the woods of Aldershot chasing shadows and getting horribly lost, and I walked into some other regiment's ambush, which was slightly embarrassing because I nearly got shot.

"Not by live rounds but by blank rounds, which would have been very embarrassing, though," the Prince explained, via BBC News. At the time, the newspaper printed a story saying William had been shot with blanks, despite the message reassuring Kate that he wasn't.

Kate Middleton
The Hacked Messages Have Given An Unwelcome Look Into Kate & William's Relationship.

Further incidences of royal hacking were found relating to Prince Harry too. An unnamed male left the younger Prince a voicemail message during which he can be heard impersonating Harry's ex-girlfriend, Chelsea Devy. Prosecutor Andrew Edis read the message out to the Old Bailey, reading "You are the best looking ginger I have ever seen" and "It's lovely out here in Africa and hopefully I'll see you very soon you big hairy fat ginger." The message was reportedly discovered at the home of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire by police.

Rebekah Brooks
Rebekah Brooks Stands On Trial For Phone Hacking Then Attempting To Cover The Evidence.

The News of the World phone hacking trial is one of the most high profile criminal cases in recent years. Former editor Rebekah Brooks and six others are on trial for phone hacking whilst she held editorship at the News of the World. Brooks is joined by fellow former editor Andy Coulson, News of the World's former managing editor, Stuart Kuttner, former head of news, Ian Edmondson, former royal editor, Clive Goodman, Brooks' former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, News International's former security chief, Mark Hanna and Charlie Brooks, Brooks' husband who trains race horses.

Brooks is facing charges of conspiracy to intercept voicemails as well as conspiracy to cause misconduct in public office.