Prince Harry recently opened up about his deteriorated relationship with his royal family members, linking the strain to his ongoing legal battles against British tabloids. The Duke of Sussex, who recently sent a congratulatory note to Kate Middleton following her appearance at Wimbledon, has issued a rallying call to the British monarchy and his family to join him in the fight against intrusive media practices.
In a preview of the upcoming ITV documentary Tabloids on Trial, journalist Becca Barry posed a critical question to Prince Harry: “To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed your relationship with your family?”
Prince Harry responded by acknowledging that his legal fight with the tabloids is a “central piece” in the breakdown of his familial ties. He expressed the difficulty in answering such questions, noting, “Anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press.”
Calling for collective action, he added, “It would be nice if we did it as a family. I believe from a service standpoint and when you are in a public role, these are the things we should be doing for the greater good.”
When asked about his family’s decision not to join his fight, Harry remarked, “I think that everything that has played out has shown people what the truth of the matter is. For me, the mission continues.” He acknowledged that his actions have contributed to the rift within the family.
Legal Victory Against Mirror Group Newspapers
Prince Harry also discussed his legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers, which resulted in a significant settlement. According to his attorney, the British newspaper publisher agreed to pay substantial fees and damages for breaching Harry’s privacy through phone hacking and other unlawful snooping activities.
Lawyer David Sherborne revealed that Mirror Group Newspapers committed to covering all of Harry’s legal fees and damages, with an advance payment of $505,000. This settlement follows a December ruling where Harry was awarded $177,000 in damages after a judge found that phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers was “widespread and habitual” from the late 1990s, continuing for over a decade, with efforts to cover it up by tabloid officials.
Reflecting on the verdict, Harry expressed relief, stating, “It was undoubtedly a big relief that the court ruled in our favour. To be able to achieve that in a trial is a monumental victory.”
In response to the documentary, Mirror Group Newspapers acknowledged the December 2023 ruling, which provided the company with essential clarity to move forward from past transgressions. The company stated, “Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid compensation.”
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