Prince Harry has come under fire for what critics describe as hypocrisy after a preview clip was revealed for the ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial, set to air this evening. The film discusses his various court battles with the press, and Harry's participation has sparked a fresh wave of criticism.
In the preview, journalist Becca Barry asked Harry, "To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed your relationship with your family?" Harry replied, "It is certainly a central piece to it. It is a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press."
Broadcaster Carole Malone, speaking on GB News, criticized Harry, saying, "Harry now is an integral part of the media that he despises so much. He has become a media person and got very rich off the back of being a media person. He sells secrets about his family to the media. This interview is him being part of the media. So to hate it in the way that he does is hypocrisy in the extreme."
In the documentary, Harry reveals that his drive to take on the press is partly influenced by his mother, Princess Diana. He also discusses his recent legal victory against Mirror Group Newspapers, where he was awarded damages for phone hacking. "To go in there and come out and have the judge rule in our favor was obviously huge. To be able to achieve that in a trial is a monumental victory."
Mirror Group Newspapers responded to the documentary, stating, "We welcomed the judgment in December 2023 that gave the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago. Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility, and paid compensation."
Prince Harry's decision to publicly fight against tabloid intrusion has been cited as a key factor in the deteriorating relationship with his family. Speaking for the first time since his four-year legal battle concluded, Harry described his recent court ruling as "vindication" and a "monumental victory." He also expressed his wish to address these issues as a family. "It would be nice if we did it as a family," he said.
However, sources close to the Royal Family argue that Harry's decision to air private matters publicly is exacerbating the rift. "Never complain, never explain has been the Royal Family's motto for over a hundred years now," said one source. "Although some of what Harry says might be valid, the family doesn't want to be dragged into any more public media storms."
In the ITV documentary, Harry speaks about his mission to expose the "illegal activities of Britain's tabloid newspapers" and acknowledges that his actions had "caused part of a rift" with his family. "If there was some kind of media blackout and trust built between Harry and the family, it could lead to a better relationship," the source added. "But all the while he continues to speak out or make comments about the Royal Family, it's not going to happen. He just needs to learn to keep quiet."
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing media pressure as a significant factor. Now residing in California, Harry also claimed there was evidence that his mother, Princess Diana, was a victim of phone hacking, although this has never been proven in court. Mirror Group Newspapers reiterated their stance, stating, "We welcomed the judgment in December 2023 that gave the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago. Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility, and paid compensation."
As the documentary airs, it remains to be seen how these revelations will impact Harry's relationship with the Royal Family and his ongoing battle with the press.
