Prince Harry Challenges UK Tabloid Culture in Court
News Desk
Islamabad: Prince Harry’s latest legal battle against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN) is set to begin Tuesday, marking a critical moment in his fight for accountability against British tabloid culture. The trial, expected to last up to 10 weeks, comes after years of legal wrangling and settlements involving other claimants.
The Duke of Sussex accuses NGN tabloids, including The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, of engaging in unlawful information gathering over a 15-year period starting in 1996. Alongside Harry, former Labour Party deputy leader and current House of Lords member Tom Watson is also pursuing claims, alleging phone hacking and other invasive practices.
While NGN has denied the allegations, calling them “unsustainable,” this trial will be the first of its kind for the publisher, which has paid out nearly £1 billion in settlements and legal costs to around 1,300 claimants without ever going to trial.
A Personal Crusade
Harry’s case is deeply personal. The prince, who blames the paparazzi for the tragic 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, has repeatedly called out the press for unethical practices. His accusations go beyond illegal information gathering, targeting Murdoch directly. In his memoir Spare, Harry described the media mogul as “evil,” accusing him of irreparably damaging public trust in media.
This trial also highlights Harry’s broader mission to hold the press accountable. Speaking at a New York Times event last month, he emphasized the importance of “accountability” in his legal efforts.
A System Under Scrutiny
The trial also raises questions about the UK’s civil litigation system, which critics argue favors wealthy defendants. High-profile claimants like actor Hugh Grant have opted for settlements, citing prohibitive legal costs that could reach millions even in victory.
Harry, however, has refused to settle, signaling his determination to challenge the system. Judge Timothy Fancourt, who presides over the case, likened it to “an entrenched front in a campaign between two obdurate but well-resourced armies.”
The Road Ahead
This lawsuit follows Harry’s landmark win against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) last year, where the High Court found that phone hacking was “widespread” at its titles. However, the current case does not include phone hacking allegations, as Fancourt ruled that Harry had exceeded the legal time limit for those claims.
NGN plans to call witnesses, including technologists, lawyers, and senior staff, to challenge the allegations. Meanwhile, Harry is expected to testify, marking another chapter in his ongoing battle against what he views as systemic abuse by the tabloid press.
As the trial unfolds, it promises to be a watershed moment in the prince’s relentless quest to expose unethical media practices and reshape the relationship between the press and public figures.
