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Metropolis Desk-
On Tuesday, Prince Harry appeared in London’s High Court, where he entered the witness stand for the first time in 130 years as a senior royal.
The Daily Mirror’s publisher is being accused of employing illegal tactics, such as phone hacking, to get stories, according to The Duke of Sussex, who is one of four claimants. Although Mirror Group Newspapers has previously acknowledged using phone hacking, they dispute that the method was applied in the circumstances described in the claim. One of five ongoing legal actions the monarchy has brought against British media organizations.
When Harry arrived at the court, he seemed unhurried and grinned at the spectators before clapping a teammate on the back and entering the structure. The entry was encircled by a throng of photographers as well as inquisitive spectators, one of whom was an artist holding a crooked picture of Prince Harry and his bride Meghan Markle riding a donkey.
Harry made his appearance after he was supposed to testify in court on Monday but did not show up. Even though sources claim that the duke wasn’t told to attend, Judge Fancourt expressed his “surprise” that Harry wasn’t there. According to the royals’ representatives, Harry remained in California to celebrate the birthday of his daughter Lilibet.
Harry describes the influence of the tabloid press in his life in a 55-page written witness statement made public on Tuesday and obtained by Variety. He also lists several “associates” with whom he maintained voicemail contact during that time, including late “Love Island” host Caroline Flack, sportscaster Natalie Pinkham, his mother Diana, brother Prince William, and ex-girlfriend Chelsea Davy.
The attorney for Mirror Group Newspapers, Andrew Green KC, cross-examined Harry in court. When questioned about the royal’s “hostility” toward local media, which Green indicated predated any suspected illegal news-collecting practices by the tabloid press, Harry responded, “I’ve experienced hostility from the press since I was born.”
“Each and every article has upset me,” Harry continued.
Prince Harry’s case marks the first time a senior royal has spoken in court since 1891. Royals have previously testified in court; Princess Anne, for instance, pled guilty to failing to stop one of her dogs from biting a child in 2002. (After reaching a settlement with Virginia Giuffre in his sexual assault lawsuit in February 2022, Prince Andrew narrowly avoided testifying himself.) The eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Prince Edward VII, testified in a slander trial involving a card game in the 19th century. He also gave testimony in a divorce case in 1870 after being wrongly accused of having a relationship with a member of parliament.
Source – NBC News
