Prince Harry’s latest royal return to Britain has faced one problem after another, and now a major legal defeat has added even more pressure to the trip. The Duke of Sussex arrived alone after security concerns affected his family plans, while a dispute over accommodation had already caused confusion.
Just one day after reaching the U.K., Harry received another major setback in a court battle he had pursued for years. Scroll down for more details.
Prince Harry’s Royal Visit Starts With A Loss
On July 7, Prince Harry and six other claimants lost their privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. The group included Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. The U.K.’s High Court dismissed all their claims after finding they had failed to prove allegations of unlawful information gathering.
Harry and the other claimants had sued over alleged privacy violations dating from the early 1990s through the 2010s. Attorney David Sherborne said they accused the U.K. tabloids of the “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering” for two decades. Associated Newspapers denied the accusations and called them “preposterous.” The publisher argued that the roughly 50 articles involved relied on legitimate sources. It included acquaintances who were willing to discuss their famous friends.
Harry had previously said private details credited to “sources” and “friends” made him suspect people close to him were leaking information to journalists. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital, “This is a huge setback for Prince Harry, especially since he was the lead claimant among the seven claimants.”
He added, “It is also clear that he did not choose his friends and acquaintances wisely.” Fitzwilliams also warned, “With his visit already mired in chaos, he won’t elicit public sympathy.”
Associated Newspapers Celebrates The Court Victory
Associated Newspapers welcomed the ruling and strongly defended its reporting. A spokesperson said, “Associated Newspapers welcomes today’s judgment. It is an overwhelming victory for the Daily Mail and its journalists, and for a free press generally.” The statement continued, “This is a magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail’s journalism.”
The publisher also addressed some of the most serious accusations made during the case. Its statement read, “For some of the most outrageous allegations made when the case was launched in a blaze of publicity four years ago. But no credible evidence was ever presented.”
Associated Newspapers continued, “As we said at the time, these allegations were ‘lurid’ and ‘preposterous’. And were a fishing expedition by the claimants and their legal teams in a politically motivated campaign. It was done to muzzle the free press. The reputations of our decent and hardworking journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated. As the judgment clearly shows, every single article was legitimately sourced.” Fox News Digital contacted Archewell, which oversees the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment.
The defeat came months after Harry gave emotional evidence at London’s High Court in January. The court loss adds to a trip already filled with difficulties. On July 6, Harry’s spokesperson told People magazine that an offer for him to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit had been withdrawn after he formally accepted it. It seems like a difficult time for Harry. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Royal news and updates.