LONDON – Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, appeared in a British court on Tuesday to testify as part of his lawsuit against Britain’s Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). The 38-year-old second son of British King Charles III, who is suing the tabloid publisher for allegedly illegally obtaining information, has sharply criticized the tabloid press.
“It’s been a downward spiral with the tabloids constantly trying to persuade me, a ‘damaged’ young man, to do something stupid that would make a good story and sell a lot of papers,” Harry said in a lengthy written statement , which was released on Tuesday as he appeared before London’s High Court. “Looking back now, such behavior on their part is absolutely despicable.”
MGN’s attorney, Andrew Green, questioned Harry about the details of the tabloid articles to which his lawsuit relates and the prince’s claims of how the information contained therein was collected. He argued that some of the stories were already in the public domain.
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At the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearing, Harry was told his testimony would continue on Wednesday and was told not to speak to anyone about it overnight.
A sketch shows Prince Harry in front of a British court on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Julia Quenzler on BBC News
“I really feel like in every relationship I’ve ever had – whether it’s with friends, girlfriends, family or the army – there was always a third party involved, which was the tabloids,” Harry’s testimony said.
“I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone, which was a horrible feeling for me, especially at such a young age. As I revealed to me the extent of the unlawful activities of MGN journalists and executives, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family was indeed misplaced, although I’m saddened by how how much she influenced my youth,” Harry said.
Why is Prince Harry on trial?
The lawsuit, which includes test cases from Harry and three other well-known British plaintiffs, alleges that journalists working for MGN unlawfully collected information about the prince, including by hacking voice messages. It consists of 207 newspaper articles published between 1991 and 2011 – 33 of which refer to Harry.
The plaintiffs argue that senior officials, including Piers Morgan – who edited the Daily Mirror newspaper from 1995 to 2004 – knew about the illegal activities. Morgan denied any knowledge of illegal activity.
MGN has previously admitted phone hacking took place in its tabloids, but its lawyer denies that unlawfully collected information was used in 28 of the 33 articles about Harry. He said the group “did not admit” the other five articles were unlawful intelligence gathering, according to the BBC.
In his testimony, Harry said, “The tabloids know the challenges and mental health issues I struggled with growing up and growing up, and they then exploited that and used that to their own advantage, I think is, well.” , criminal.”
Harry is the first senior member of the British royal family to appear in court to testify and face cross-examination since the 19th century.
The prince had been instructed to be present on the first day of the hearing on Monday should he be needed, but he was not there. The Associated Press quoted Harry’s lawyer as saying in court Monday that the prince flew out of Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their children on Sunday, after celebrating his daughter’s birthday .
Prince Harry failed to show up for the first day of the phone hacking process
The judge, Judge Timothy Fancourt, told the court Monday he was “a little surprised” by Harry’s absence on the first day.
MGN’s attorney Green said Monday he was “deeply disturbed” by the prince’s non-appearance.
“They are the mothership of online trolling. Trolls react to stories they make up and mobilize them,” Harry said of the media. “How much more blood will stain their writing fingers before anyone can put an end to this madness.”
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