Prince Harry says tabloid lawsuits add to 'split’ with royal family

ITV

Prince Harry has spoken publicly for the first time about one of his many legal battles against the tabloids, saying his experience with the British press „caused a lot of people around you, I guess, paranoia, fear, anxiety, worry, distrust . . .”

Speaking in an upcoming documentary, „Tabloids on Trial,” set to air July 25 on ITV (and streamer ITVX) in the UK, the British royal family talks about its case against the Mirror Group newspapers. Last December a judge ruled Harry guilty of „extensive” phone hacking and awarded him £140,600 ($180,000) to cover his „injury”.

In the documentary, Harry describes the judge’s ruling as a „”monumental victory.” „To go in there and have the judge rule in our favor is obviously huge,” he says. „But like he did with her, you know, it’s not just individuals. It went up… it was the lawyers, it was the higher ups. Achieving that in one trial is a huge achievement.

Speaking about one of the headlines that broke during the hearing, referring to the prince’s then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, Harry said: „’Harry’s girlfriend to dump him’ – looks like they knew something before I did.”

„I guess paranoia, fear, anxiety, worry, distrust of the people around you, a topic like that is not in the public interest at all,” continues Harry. “There is a big difference between the public interest and the public interest, so between me and what happens in my private life. [my] So the girlfriend is right between us.

When asked if the hacking made Harry paranoid, he replied: “I think paranoid is a very interesting word because yes, it can be paranoid, but it proves that if you’re proven you’re not paranoid. You know, like my mom.”

“You know there is evidence that he was hacked in the mid-nineties. But she’s not paranoid, she’s absolutely right about what’s happening to her. And she is not around today to know the truth.

In the past few years Harry has also sued Newsgroup Newspapers (publishers of The Sun) and Associated Newspapers (publishers of the Daily Mail).

Harry also says in the documentary that his determination to fight the tabloids destroyed his relationship with his family. „It’s definitely a center piece,” he explains. „But, you know, it’s a tough question, because anything I say about my family results in abuse from the press….I’ve made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. We, you know, as a family would be fine. Again, a service. From a standpoint, when you’re in a public role, I believe we should be doing these things for the greater good, but, you know, I’m doing it for my reasons.

„I think everything that’s played out has shown people what the truth of the matter is. For me, the work continues, but it’s there, it’s there, yes. It’s part of a divide, as you say.

In response to the documentary, the Mirror Group newspapers said: “We welcomed the December 2023 judgment which provided the clarity needed for business to move on from the events of several years ago. Where a historical mistake has been made, we apologize unconditionally, accept full responsibility and offer compensation.