Prince Harry’s relationship with the UK press has been marked by turmoil and tension, captivating the attention of the media and the public alike. From his early years in the limelight to his high-profile marriage to Meghan Markle and subsequent departure from royal duties, Harry has found himself embroiled in a complex dynamic with the press.
Prince Harry took a significant step in his battle against the UK tabloids when he appeared on the court witness stand, solemnly swearing to tell the truth.
His testimony was aimed at exposing the alleged wiretapping and other illegal surveillance activities carried out by the editor of the Daily Mirror, whom he is suing.
Holding a Bible, Harry accused the publisher of using large-scale illegal methods to obtain exclusive stories, shedding light on the contentious relationship between British royalty and the media.
During his testimony on the witness stand, Prince Harry expressed the lifelong hostility he has faced from the press.
He accused the tabloids of playing a destructive role in his upbringing.
When asked about the evidence of the phone hacking, Harry said he would have to ask the specific journalists responsible for the articles.
He repeatedly stressed the highly suspicious manner in which the information had been obtained, including involving journalists known to hack or bill third parties, such as private investigators with a reputation for snooping.
When asked about a specific item related to his 12th birthday, despite not having a mobile phone at the time, Harry suggested the possibility that his late mother Princess Diana’s phone was hacked.
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The defense responded that this was mere speculation.
The prince acknowledged the apparent impact of his parents’ divorce on him, but stressed that it was illegitimate to report such private information obtained through suspicious means.
It should be noted that Prince Harry’s court appearance marks the first time a senior British royal has faced questioning since the 19th century.
His lawyer, David Sherborne, presented the case, highlighting how British newspapers used hacking and deception to extract information about Harry during his childhood. Between 1996 and 2011, more than 2,500 articles were published covering various aspects of his life, from school injuries and drug experimentation to romantic relationships.
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In a written witness statement, Prince Harry stated that he felt possessed by the tabloid press and that their presence had constantly intruded on all relationships, whether with friends, girlfriends, family or while serving in the military. He described the behavior of the press as a downward spiral.
Hacking, a widespread practice in British tabloids in the early 2000s, involved guessing or using predetermined security codes to access celebrities’ voicemail messages.
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Mirror Group, the defendant in the case, settled numerous claims of illegal information gathering and issued an apology to hacking victims in 2015, but it denies or has not admitted any of Prince Harry’s specific allegations related to 33 published articles.
The defense argued that there is no evidence to support the claim that Prince Harry was hacked, let alone regularly.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn