Alex McCurthy
Prince Harry’s legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, reached its conclusion as his lawyer argued that the Duke of Sussex was a “prime target” for tabloid press and a victim of phone hacking. Alongside approximately 100 others, Prince Harry is suing MGN over allegations of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering spanning from 1991 to 2011.
During the trial at London’s High Court, Prince Harry’s lawyer emphasized that the evidence against MGN was “inferential” but highlighted that the newspapers viewed the prince as one of their top targets due to the significant boost in sales generated by royal stories.
MGN had previously admitted involvement in unlawful information gathering and resolved over 600 claims related to the scandal. However, the publisher asserted that there was no evidence suggesting Prince Harry’s phone had been hacked. It also stated that certain personal information about the prince in the stories cited during the case had originated from Buckingham Palace aides, with their consent.
MGN argued that it would have been highly unlikely for them to target Prince Harry, especially considering the 2006 arrest of the former royal editor of Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid.
In an unprecedented move, Prince Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, took the witness stand, making him the first senior royal to give evidence in court in 130 years.
Prince Harry’s lawyer underscored that his legal action stemmed from his justified resentment towards the treatment he has endured from the British and international media over the years. The lawyer emphasized that the lawsuit was not about seeking compensation but rather addressing the ongoing issues and seeking justice.
As the trial concluded, Prince Harry’s allegations against MGN now rest in the hands of the court, awaiting a verdict that could potentially shape the future relationship between the British royal family and the tabloid press.
