Prince Harry's rare UK visit has been marred by controversy after he lost his High Court privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mail. Former royal butler Grant Harrold has described the rift between Harry and the rest of the royal family as 'irreversible', predicting that Prince William will be 'furious' over the latest developments.
Court Ruling Against Harry
On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex, along with several high-profile figures including Elizabeth Hurley, brought a case against Associated Newspapers (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail. They claimed unlawful methods had been employed to gather information for stories, allegations that ANL has always strongly refuted. Mr Justice Nicklin informed the group that the accusations were so grave they had to demonstrate the information had been obtained unlawfully and that they needed more compelling evidence.
Mr Justice Nicklin said: 'I accept that he found the article intrusive and was genuinely concerned by how journalists appeared to know private information concerning his relationships. But suspicion, even understandable suspicion, is not proof.' All 14 of Prince Harry's claims regarding numerous articles published about him have been thrown out, leaving him with a substantial financial burden along with the other claimants.
Harry's Response
Prince Harry, together with the others involved in the case, issued a statement following the ruling. In a joint statement with Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the Duke of Sussex declared: 'It is a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected.' The pair said: 'We came to court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither.'
'This judgment represents a complete reversal of the position which previous judges have taken in relation to the hacking claims successfully brought against both News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers, who were represented by, at the time, the judge who made this decision.' They added: 'The fact that this court has chosen to dismiss them represents an inconsistency which is hard to understand or reconcile with common sense, or the evidence heard in the courtroom itself.'
Expert Analysis on Royal Rift
Speaking to OLBG, former royal butler Grant Harrold offered his views on what the developments over recent days signify for Harry's prospects with his family. He said: 'Prince Harry has basically aired his dirty laundry in public - again. This has turned it from a private issue into a public one. This will have a bigger impact than just a bit of upset for this visit. The Palace will not be happy at all. It's going to make things even more difficult for Harry in the longer term. And I think this could be irreversible.'
Harrold added that his behaviour shows the royals and their advisors that 'Harry still isn't willing to play by the rules'. He explained: 'He's still happy to put out statements criticising them. I think William will be furious, it's just more drama that I believe he just wants to leave in the past.'
Impact on Family Relations
Since withdrawing from his royal role, Harry has been outspoken about his views on the royals, as demonstrated in a televised Oprah Winfrey interview and his own Netflix documentary series. Consequently, for many people there is a trust barrier that has been shattered, as personal family matters have been made public. People are speculating about whether Harry will meet with his father, and royal commentator Hilary Fordwich believes the Prince owes the remainder of the royal family an apology. She claimed any contact between Harry and the King would be carefully orchestrated to safeguard the monarchy's interests.
Despite the controversy, Harry delivered an address at the Invictus Games just moments after the court ruling on July 7. The event marked his return to the spotlight in his homeland, but the legal defeat and ongoing family tensions continue to cast a shadow over his visit.
