Prince Harry’s Legal Proceedings Against British Tabloids Suffer a Blow
Prince Harry’s legal battle against British tabloids faced a setback as the High Court in London ruled that there was no secret deal between Buckingham Palace and Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper group regarding phone-hacking claims. However, the court allowed some of Harry’s lawsuit against News Group Newspapers (NGN) to proceed to trial over alleged invasions of privacy by its tabloids, the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.
Key Points:
– The judge ruled that Prince Harry’s phone-hacking allegations were made too late for the Murdoch case.
– The rest of Harry’s claims can proceed to trial, which is scheduled to begin in January.
– Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers considered the ruling a “significant victory.”
Prince Harry, who now resides in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, is pursuing four cases at the High Court against British publishers. He views these lawsuits as a mission to hold tabloid executives accountable for lying and covering up widespread wrongdoing. He believes that intrusive media has not only damaged his personal relationships but also played a role in the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.
NGN argued during the hearings that Harry’s claims should be dismissed as they fell outside the six-year time limit for legal action. In 2012, the newspaper group issued an apology for widespread hacking by journalists at the News of the World, which was subsequently shut down. However, NGN has consistently denied any wrongdoing by staff at the Sun. Harry’s legal team claimed that he had not filed a claim earlier due to a “secret agreement” between Buckingham Palace and NGN to avoid embarrassment. They also alleged that Prince William had settled a phone-hacking claim against NGN for a substantial sum.
Invasion of Privacy
In Thursday’s ruling, Judge Timothy Fancourt agreed that the phone-hacking allegations were made too late and found no plausible evidence to support the existence of a secret deal. However, he allowed the remaining claims of “blagging” (obtaining confidential details through deception) and other unlawful invasions of privacy to proceed to trial, which is set to begin in January next year. Judge Fancourt stated that it was difficult to determine a clear winner between Harry and NGN.
NGN celebrated the ruling as a “significant victory” and declared that the company was putting an end to the phone-hacking scandal that has plagued them since 2005. An NGN spokesperson denied the existence of any secret agreement and stated that it was solely Prince Harry who had asserted its existence. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the ruling.
Prince Harry’s Battle Against the British Press
Since stepping down from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry has been actively fighting against the British press, which he believes has intruded into his private life since childhood, spreading false information about him and his loved ones. He has also criticized his own family, accusing them of conspiring with royal aides to plant stories in newspapers to enhance their reputations or divert attention from their own wrongdoing.
In June, Prince Harry made history by becoming the first senior British royal in over 130 years to give evidence in court during his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers.
In conclusion, Prince Harry’s legal proceedings against British tabloids faced a setback with the High Court ruling against his phone-hacking allegations. However, some of his claims regarding invasions of privacy will proceed to trial. This ongoing battle reflects Prince Harry’s determination to hold tabloid executives accountable for their actions and protect his own privacy and that of his family.
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