Prince Harry appeared at London’s High Court on Tuesday to give evidence in his lawsuit against a tabloid publisher accused of phone hacking and other unlawful activities.
Dressed in a navy suit and dark purple tie, he took the witness box and swore an oath on the Bible beneath his father’s coat of arms.
The Duke arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice’s modern Wing, the Rolls building, in a Black Range Rover, attracting attention from both paparazzi and protesters.
Amidst the flashes of cameras, crowds gathered to demonstrate against Harry’s allegations of phone hacking.
Some individuals even shouted expletives and urged him to return to California, accusing him of causing trouble in the peaceful country.
The treatment Prince Harry received was indicative of the animosity he faces, with many considering him obnoxious and a source of additional turmoil.
It seemed that he was bracing himself for a challenging trial, aware that he would face the consequences of his actions against the monarchy and betrayal of the queen.
Regarding the case itself, Prince Harry failed to appear on Monday, surprising those present.
He and over 100 others are suing Mirror Group newspapers, MGN, which publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, for alleged wrongdoing between 1991 and 2011.
However, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the prince would endure hours of cross-examination from Andrew Green, MGN’s lawyer.
This makes Prince Harry the first senior British royal in 130 years to provide evidence in court.
Before the cross-examination began, Prince Harry swore on the Bible and requested to be addressed as Your Royal Highness initially, followed by Prince Harry.
When asked if he recalled reading the articles in question at the time of publication, he admitted he couldn’t specifically remember doing so.
He explained that it was others within his circle who had read the majority of the articles, and their behavior towards him had changed as a result.
He also expressed shock upon discovering the unlawful methods used to obtain the information contained in these articles.
Prince Harry’s relationship with the press has been fraught with hostility since his birth.
When asked if he felt hostility towards the media, he confirmed that he did.
The ongoing MGN trial seeks to establish that senior editors and executives were aware of and approved the unlawful information gathering.
Prince Harry is one of four test cases, and his specific allegations are the primary focus in the early days of the trial.
However, his absence on Monday surprised Judge Timothy Fencourt.
It was later revealed that he had only just left the United States, where he now resides with his wife Meghan, as it was their daughter Lilibet’s birthday on Sunday.
His memoir, Netflix documentary series, and previous TV interviews have repeatedly accused his family and their aides of colluding with tabloids to boost their reputation at his expense.
As Prince Harry faces the cross-examination and continues his legal battle against the tabloid publisher, the world watches with anticipation for the outcome of this high-profile case.