Six months after Prince Harry’s appearance in the witness box at the London High Court, the time has come: a verdict is expected this Friday in the damages claim of the 39-year-old royal and other celebrities against the publishing house “Mirror”.
The youngest son of British King Charles III. accuses journalists from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People of spying on him through illegal means. Voice messages on his mobile phone were intercepted and analyzed for messages about him and private detectives were hired.
The fact that Harry himself appeared as a witness at the trial in June caused a stir. He was cross-examined for two days – the first British royal family to do so in 130 years.
Using 33 articles from MGN’s Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People from 1996 to 2009, Prince Harry and his legal team set out to demonstrate that illegally obtained information was used in reporting on him.
The reports sometimes revealed juicy details, such as a visit to a strip club, the end of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy or sports injuries. The information was so intimate, he argued, that it could only have come from intercepting cellphone voice messages and other illegal information gathering. He did not provide any concrete evidence.
Harry spoke softly, often barely audible, and sometimes seemed frustrated. The alleged espionage had caused him severe mental suffering and strained his friendships and relationships. He complained and finally admitted that it had taken a lot out of him to take the witness stand.
Publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) lawyer Andrew Green had largely dismissed the allegations, arguing that the reporting was based on legally obtained information. Often the sources were public or there were people chatting around him.
There is no doubt that illegal methods were rife in many British newspapers, including the MGN papers, during the period in question. However, the burden of proof lay with the Duke of Sussex and his co-plaintiffs, even though this is not as difficult to provide in a civil action as in a criminal case.
Prince Harry, according to a written witness statement he has submitted, is concerned with more than just his own painful experiences as a teenager and young adult. He sees the British tabloids, or ‘tabloids’ as they are called in Britain, as self-indulgent. He is convinced that the accidental death of his mother Princess Diana in 1997 was partly caused by the paparazzi who were hot on her heels, and has repeatedly warned that history could repeat itself with his wife Meghan (42).
“Our country will be judged around the world based on the state of our press and our government – both of which, in my opinion, are at an all-time low,” he wrote in his written statement. The press is no longer living up to its mission to hold the government accountable and is instead sleeping with it so that everything remains as it is.
Harry, who left the circle of the royal family almost four years ago and lives with his family in the US, is waging a true crusade against the tabloid press. There are several other pending cases alleging illegal information gathering, including against the publisher of the Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers. The outcome of the lawsuit against the Mirror Group will likely be an early indication of whether its mission will be successful. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
