Prince Harry says Mail publisher made his wife Meghan's 'life a misery'

Prince Harry says Mail publisher made his wife Meghan's 'life a misery'

Prince Harry appeared visibly emotional while giving evidence at the High Court in his ongoing legal dispute with Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher behind the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Speaking towards the end of his testimony, he described how the coverage of his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, had been an “absolute misery” due to the publisher’s actions. Much of his statement focused on how articles about his previous relationships, especially with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, had impacted his life deeply.

Throughout his 23-page witness statement, Prince Harry highlighted the distress caused by the media’s relentless focus on his personal relationships. He said that the papers’ “terrifying” reporting left him fearful that something harmful might occur. For instance, an article from 2006 alleging that Davy opposed Harry joining the Army placed significant strain on their relationship, causing mistrust among her friends and making it difficult to maintain the partnership. The prince voiced serious accusations against the publisher, suggesting they seemed intent on driving him towards substance abuse simply to boost sales.

During cross-examination, Prince Harry adopted a firm tone but was also restrained, prompted repeatedly by the judge to avoid becoming argumentative. The publisher’s lawyer, Antony White KC, questioned why Harry did not raise concerns earlier about stories published between 2001 and 2013. The prince explained that, as a member of the Royal Family, he “was not allowed to complain,” adding later, “Hindsight is a beautiful thing, Mr White.” The questioning also touched on suggestions that journalists might have ingratiated themselves within Harry’s social circles, to which the duke replied dryly, “Good for her,” when it was implied a reporter frequented some of the same clubs.

The legal action brought by Prince Harry is part of a larger group of seven prominent figures accusing ANL of invading privacy over a period extending more than two decades, from 1993 to well beyond 2018. Harry described a feeling of “24-hour surveillance” and a relentless campaign that made him paranoid. He also revealed that the publication of private conversations following the appearance of a photo of his late mother, Princess Diana, in the Italian press was particularly cruel. The duke stressed that the Mail was the first to reveal Chelsy Davy’s identity publicly, which led to distressing levels of intrusion. ANL denies all allegations of illegal information gathering. The case continues with several other claimants, including notable public figures, pursuing similar complaints against the publisher

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