At one point, the Prince grew so indignant that Mr Justice Nicklin was forced to intervene. “Part of Mr White’s job is to put allegations to you,” the judge explained patiently. “This is a big moment. You are doing exactly what lots of litigants do – you tend to argue back about what he is putting to you.”
Reminding Harry that he did not “have to bear the burden of arguing the case”, the judge urged him simply to answer the questions.
The Duke insisted he felt no pressure. He merely wanted the court to “have an idea of what it is like living in this world” under what he described as “24-hour surveillance”. Leaving aside the sheer implausibility of that claim; how, precisely, could reporters and photographers have monitored him around the clock while he lived behind palace walls? Is this not the same Harry who has lobbied for taxpayer-funded 24-hour security whenever he visits Britain?
Moreover, much of the scrutiny endured by Harry and Meghan over the past five years has been entirely self-generated. The Duke frequently demands a “fair” press while continuing to present a relentlessly one-sided narrative. What of the misery endured by William and Catherine? Or the distress inflicted on his late grandparents during their final years? What of the anguish caused to his father, the King, still undergoing cancer treatment, and to Queen Camilla – sullied by Harry as a “villain” who left “bodies in the street”?
And what of the palace staff who accused Meghan of bullying? That story, which the couple would much rather have buried, only emerged because of leaked emails alleging the Duchess “was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year” and had sought to undermine the confidence of a third. The full findings of the internal investigation remain secret.
If it is ultimately proven that Harry was the victim of phone hacking or other illegal information-gathering methods, then he absolutely deserves his day in court and a victory. The rule of law must apply equally, whether one is a prince or a private citizen.
But let us be clear about one thing. No newspaper in this country has ever cashed in on Prince Harry’s private life more effectively, more relentlessly, or more profitably than Prince Harry himself.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
