Britain’s Prince Harry is suing Associated Newspapers (ANL) publishers over two articles published in February about protecting him and his family. The articles appeared in more or less the same form in the tabloids Daily Mail in Mail on Sundayrevealed during a hearing in the case on Thursday.
In February it was announced that Harry is suing ANL for libel, but it was not clear why the prince did that and which articles or titles of ANL are involved.
During the hearing it turned out that it concerns a article which appeared in February in response to a lawsuit the Prince had brought against the British Home Office over his family’s police security. He lost it after he and his wife resigned from their royal duties in 2019 and moved to the United States.
According to various British media outlets, Harry wrote in a statement on Thursday that the article has caused him “significant pain, shame and suffering which continues”. His lawyer, Justin Rushbrooke, adds that the article suggested that the prince “lied in public statements” by claiming he would always have been willing to pay for his own security while in the UK.
Rushbrooke also said that in the article in Mail on Sunday it was alleged that Harry had attempted “inappropriately and cynically” to manipulate public opinion on the matter.
Publisher denies allegations
ANL denies the allegations. During the hearing, ANL’s lawyers argued that the article contained “no trace of impropriety” and was not defamatory.
The judge said he would make a decision at a later date. When is not yet known.
Harry and his wife Meghan won a case from ANL earlier this year. The Duchess of Sussex felt the publisher had invaded her privacy by publishing part of a handwritten letter to her father Thomas Markle. Mail on Sunday had to apologize to Meghan from the judge. The duchess also received compensation, which she donated to charity.
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