After losing one of the most high-profile lawsuits in recent years, Prince Harry broke his silence. The Duke of Sussex called the British court's decision an «obvious concealment of the truth» and made it clear that he does not intend to abandon his long-term fight against the tabloids.
In recent years, the name of Prince Harry has practically not disappeared from the UK news agenda, notes xrust. However, this time the occasion turned out to be especially painful for the youngest son of King Charles III. The High Court in London completely rejected the claim of Harry and several other famous Britons against the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The plaintiffs alleged that journalists had illegally obtained personal information for years using wiretaps, private investigators and other dubious methods. The court concluded that the evidence presented was insufficient.
Almost immediately after the court decision, Prince Harry issued a joint statement along with Baroness Doreen Lawrence, another participant in the process. They called the verdict a «complete and blatant cover-up of the truth,» saying they expected to get justice but received neither fair consideration nor accountability from the publisher. According to Harry, the court ignored a number of circumstances that in previous similar trials had already been recognized as evidence of illegal activities of the British media.
For the prince himself, this process had special meaning. After giving up his duties as a member of the royal family and moving to the United States, he repeatedly stated that he considered the aggressive methods of the British tabloids to be one of the main reasons for the tragedies in his life. Harry connects the constant harassment of the press not only with the death of his mother, Princess Diana, but also with the pressure that he and his wife Meghan Markle experienced.
Unlike some previous proceedings, the current trial ended unsuccessfully for the Duke. Judge Matthew Nicklin said suspicion and circumstantial evidence were not enough to find the publisher guilty. According to the court, the publications could have had legitimate sources of information, but the plaintiffs failed to prove the use of illegal methods.
Associated Newspapers welcomed the court's decision with satisfaction. Representatives of the publisher called the verdict a convincing victory for journalism and emphasized that the charges against the editors had completely failed. Moreover, the publisher intends to recover legal costs from the losing party. According to British media reports, we are talking about tens of millions of pounds. The court will consider the final decision on the issue of compensation for expenses later.
Despite the defeat, experts do not believe that Harry has completely abandoned his campaign against British tabloids. Over the past few years, he has already won other cases related to illegal collection of information and interference with privacy. That is why many lawyers call the current decision more of a serious setback in an individual case than a final defeat for his entire long-term struggle with the press.
History once again shows how complex the relationship between public figures and the media remains. For Prince Harry, this trial has long ceased to be a dispute with one newspaper. It became a symbol of his attempt to change the rules of the British tabloid press. However, the latest decision of the High Court shows that even a big name and publicity are no substitute for the evidence required by law.
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Xrust Prince Harry spoke out for the first time after his high-profile defeat in court against the Daily Mail
