Prince Harry faced a grueling day in court as he was cross-examined over his allegations against Mirror Group Newspapers.
The Duke of Sussex accused the company of unlawful information gathering, while MGN contested the claims.
This experience was far from the friendly interviews and promotional appearances he is accustomed to, such as those with Oprah Winfrey and for his memoir Spare.
During the cross-examination conducted by Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, Harry was questioned about a December 2007 article that featured a paparazzi photograph of his then-girlfriend Chelsea Davy leaving Kensington Palace.
Mr. Green argued that this was something anyone could have observed, given the presence of photographers outside the palace.
However, Harry countered by stating that the paparazzi were usually only present for significant royal events like weddings, engagements, and hospital visits.
The questioning then turned to the paparazzi and a car chase incident involving Harry in New York.
While initially puzzled, Harry eventually admitted that the paparazzi were not constantly harassing him and his wife.
He implied that his wife, Meghan, would sometimes call the paparazzi herself.
This raised further questions about the presence of paparazzi during celebrity outings and hiking trips.
Were these also considered special occasions?
Interestingly, it was revealed that the same agency, Backgrid, collaborated with Meghan for a hiking photo shoot on Coronation Day.
This revelation added an intriguing twist to the narrative.
Reports of the alleged car chase emerged on May 17th, deviating from the expected celebratory tone surrounding the couple’s fifth anniversary on May 19th.
Instead, a story about Harry’s rented room was leaked to a media outlet known to be sympathetic to Meghan.
The underlying sentiment of the story suggested that Harry was abandoning his family, a claim he vehemently denies.
However, it appears that the source of these stories may be closer to home, indicating a troubling reality for the couple.
In addition to his legal battles, Prince Harry expressed his desire to combat the hate directed towards him and Meghan.
However, it seems he misunderstands that forcing people to like them is not a feasible solution.
If Meghan wishes to improve her public image, she must consider changing her behavior rather than resorting to lawsuits against the media.
The key lies in personal growth and becoming a better person.
When questioned about his discussions with lawyers following a chance meeting with Mr. Sherbourne, Harry explained that he wanted to put an end to the intrusion and hate he was facing, seeking alternative courses of action outside of the institution’s influence.
However, during cross-examination, Andrew Green KC suggested that Harry had not encountered any evidence of phone hacking.
In response, Harry claimed there was substantial evidence suggesting suspicious sourcing of stories and extensive use of burner phones, which leave no traceable records.
It is apparent that Harry and Meghan fail to grasp the reasons behind the public’s shift in sentiment towards them.
It was not solely due to tabloid coverage but rather their own actions.
In the UK, it was the Oprah interviews and Megxit that caused discontent, while in the US, their involvement with Netflix and the release of Spare raised eyebrows.
Unlike the couple, most people understand not to take tabloid reports too seriously.
In conclusion, Prince Harry’s day in court shed light on his allegations against Mirror Group Newspapers.
The intense cross-examination revealed insights into the paparazzi’s involvement and the couple’s own actions.
It remains to be seen how these revelations will impact public opinion and the ongoing legal battle.