Prince Harry’s friend is facing a £1 million court battle against a billionaire regarding a cancelled expedition to the Titanic shipwreck. Henry Cookson, who was Harry’s former North Pole guide on a charity expedition in 2011, is being sued for £1million by billionaire Karen Lo, who wanted a refund from his firm Henry Cookson Adventures Ltd after she paid for an excursion aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible, which never took place. As reported by GB News, Lo reportedly paid £680,000 in 2017 for the excursion, which was supposed to take place in 2018.

However, this planned trip on the Titan – which imploded during a dive in June 2023 – was cancelled after the vessel was struck by lightning, which damaged its electronic systems. Lo was offered a priority place on a future dive with a 100% credit toward 2019 Titanic dives. However, this never took place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the submersible no longer exists as a result of a 2023 June tragedy, which killed five passengers, Lo is now suing the company under the Package Travel Regulations 1992.

She has argued that it was an express or implied term of the contract that the dive would take place within a “reasonable time”.

The billionaire’s claim aims to receive back the original £680,000 paid, alongside the 8% interest since 2018.

However, Cookson’s company is fighting against this refund claim, stating that Lo, whose wealth comes from Vitasoy – a soymilk and drinks giant founded by her grandfather – knew about the company’s no-refund policy when she paid for the excursion.

The adventurer’s lawyers also said Lo was offered the chance to go on the excursion in 2021 and 2022 using her credit but declined.

Titan made several dives to the Titanic wreck in 2021 and 2022 before the tragic 2023 disaster.

It is believed Cookson and Lo were on friendly terms in the past before the court battle.