Prince Harry Points to Meghan's Treatment as Turning Point in Press Battle
The Duke of Sussex has revealed that witnessing the "persistent attacks" on his wife Meghan Markle became the catalyst for his decision to pursue legal action against the publisher of The Daily Mail. Giving evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice, Prince Harry stated that his approach to dealing with the press fundamentally changed after his marriage.
"Vicious Persistent Attacks" on Meghan Prompted Action
In his witness statement read to the court, Harry explained: "In late 2016, when my relationship with Meghan, my now wife, became public, I started to become increasingly troubled by the approach of not taking action against the press in the wake of vicious persistent attacks on, harassment of and intrusive, sometimes racist articles concerning Meghan." He emphasized that the situation deteriorated further when Meghan became pregnant and after the birth of their son, Archie.
The Duke described this legal action as the first time he had obtained independent legal representation outside of royal institutions, stating: "This was the first time I had my own legal representation outside of the Institution. Until that point, this had never occurred to me to be a possibility."
Seven High-Profile Claimants Allege Unlawful Information Gathering
Prince Harry is one of seven prominent figures bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The group includes:
- Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish
- Campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence
- Politician Sir Simon Hughes
- Actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley
The claimants allege that ANL engaged in unlawful information gathering over a 20-year period, including:
- Hacking voicemail messages
- Bugging landline telephones
- Obtaining private information through deception (known as "blagging")
Harry's Specific Claims About Relationship Strain
The Duke's claim specifically relates to 14 articles published by Associated Newspapers, many concerning his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy. Harry testified that the newspaper's methods created a "massive strain" on personal relationships and left his former girlfriend "terrified."
During cross-examination, there were frosty exchanges between Harry and ANL's barrister, Antony White KC. White suggested that Harry knew his social circle was "leaky," to which the Duke firmly responded: "My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear." He added that if he became suspicious of someone, "I would have to cut contact with this person."
Courtroom Atmosphere and Historical Context
Despite the serious nature of the proceedings, moments of levity occurred in the packed courtroom. When asked how he would like to be addressed, Harry replied "Same as last time," then admitted "I can't remember" when questioned further, prompting laughter from those present.
In his broader witness statement, Harry contextualized his relationship with the media, stating: "Following the death of my mother in 1997 when I was 12 years old and her treatment at the hands of the press, I have always had an uneasy relationship with them." He described being conditioned to accept the royal policy of "never complain, never explain" but said marrying Meghan changed his perspective entirely.
Conflicting Arguments and Case Details
Associated Newspapers denies all allegations of wrongdoing, arguing instead that:
- Harry's social circle was known to be "leaky"
- Some articles were based on public statements issued by royal press officers
- They had legitimate sources for published information
The claimants accuse ANL of committing "grave breaches of privacy" over two decades. The case is scheduled to last nine weeks, with Prince Harry having reportedly prepared for this moment for the last three years. A source close to the Duke claimed he was "ready" for the proceedings despite what they described as legal "dirty tricks" from Mail lawyers.
