Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, appeared in court on Tuesday, delivering testimony against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) and accusing tabloid newspapers of hacking his voicemails during his teenage years. The prince, who is the first senior royal to give evidence in court in over 130 years, expressed his longstanding hostility towards the press and the detrimental effects of their actions on his life.
During the cross-examination by MGN’s lawyer, Andrew Green KC, Prince Harry remained resolute in his assertions that journalists’ actions were connected to payments made to private investigators. He stressed his suspicion that stories originated from hacking, causing security concerns and damaging his relationships.
In his written statement, Prince Harry condemned the tabloid press for casting members of the Royal Family into specific roles and creating an “alternative and distorted version” of himself. He highlighted the negative labels and stereotypes that had been attributed to him, reflecting the media’s influence on public perception.
The duke also criticized former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, expressing his disgust at the thought of journalists listening to his late mother’s private messages before her death in 1997. He accused the press of continuously attempting to undermine his relationships, calling it a “twisted objective” that persists to this day.
Prince Harry’s statement was critical of the government’s and the British press’s handling of press intrusion and their failure to address it effectively. He accused the media of protecting each other and those in power of turning a blind eye to ensure its continuation. He also described the press as the “mothership of online trolling,” linking their actions to instances where people have tragically lost their lives.
Furthermore, Prince Harry alleged that journalists illegally obtained information about his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy’s flights to the UK to visit him.
MGN’s defense centers on the argument that stories were legally reported because they were already in the public domain. However, Prince Harry emphasized that journalists were desperate for any royal-related content and pursued any opportunity to delve into their private lives.
While Prince Harry acknowledged the sympathy for the press intrusion he has faced, he maintained that not all actions were lawful. He expressed his desire to bring an end to the negative impact caused by tabloid newspapers.
The court case involves Prince Harry and three other claimants – Coronation Street actors Michael Turner (Michael Le Vell) and Nikki Sanderson, as well as Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse. They allege that MGN employed unlawful methods to obtain information for stories, and the claimants argue that senior executives must have been aware of these practices but failed to intervene.
The duke will continue his testimony on Wednesday as the legal proceedings progress.
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