London (dpa) – “Never complain, never explain”: this has long been the motto of the British royal family when it comes to reporting on them in the tabloid media. But Prince Harry broke with this principle, first in interviews and publications and now in court as well.
The 38-year-old is expected to appear in London’s High Court today in espionage proceedings against publisher Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He himself is expected to take the witness stand no later than Tuesday. He must also be able to answer questions from the other party’s lawyer. According to British media, it will be the first time since the 19th century that a member of the royal family has been questioned.
Harry and other celebrities accuse journalists from the “Daily Mirror”, “Sunday Mirror” and “People” newspapers of spying on them, sometimes for years, using illegal methods such as tapping cell phone mailboxes, and are demanding a compensation.
They also accuse the management of the newspapers and publishers of knowing about the machinations, of not having intervened and of having subsequently covered up the procedure.
campaign against tabloids
It is already known from other processes that illegal practices were used with the three blades. However, the publisher firmly rejects the specific allegations in the current process. In addition, the lawyers argue that the six-year period to file a lawsuit is long overdue. Harry and other plaintiffs counter that they only gradually realized what had happened, and therefore could not have reacted sooner.
For Prince Harry, the appearance on the witness stand may be just one of several. The youngest son of King Carlos III. (74), who now lives with his wife Meghan (41) and his two children Archie (4) and Lilibet (2) in the US state of California, is waging a real campaign against the tabloids in Great Brittany.
Harry makes no secret of the fact that he blames the “tabloid press”, as the tabloid media is called in Britain, for his mother’s accidental death. Since Diana’s death, he has been relentlessly hounded by journalists and paparazzi, humiliated and downright sabotaged in his relationships with women, he explained in the biography “Reserve” (English: “Spare”) published in January.
He and his wife Meghan recently went public with allegations that photographers chased them around town after an event in New York. The portrayal, which has not been independently confirmed in his drama, recalls the death trip of his mother, Princess Diana, in Paris in the summer of 1997. She was also followed by paparazzi at the time.
closeness with family?
Harry’s testimony in the trial against the editor of “Mirror” should follow a similar style. However, with the difference that the other party’s lawyer can also ask questions and try to question his credibility.
Three days – from Monday to Wednesday – are scheduled for the accusations of Prince Harry. He will likely have to comment on the details that were the focus of the reported reports. These are said to be 33 articles from the years 1996 to 2009, the content of which, according to Harry, could only have reached the journalists’ hands through illegal methods.
Among other things, it is necessary to talk about the relationship with his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, which, according to Harry, broke up due to the constant monitoring of the tabloid media.
Also noteworthy is the role of former “Mirror” editor-in-chief and TV host Piers Morgan, whom Harry and his lawyers accuse of being involved in the illegal activities. Morgan is now considered the harshest critic of Harry’s wife, Duchess Meghan.
It is unclear if Harry will also use his time in London to get closer to his family. His relationship with the other royals is now considered extremely strained. The fact that he is making private details public again should not arouse enthusiasm in the palace. In any case, his father Charles may not have noticed much of the hustle and bustle surrounding Harry’s testimony in London: he is currently holidaying alone in Romania, where he owns several holiday homes in remote areas of Transylvania, allegedly without access to radio, television. or Internet.
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