Prince Harry has made a serious allegation against The Sun tabloid, claiming that the publisher unlawfully intercepted phone calls made by his late mother, Princess Diana, and his father, King Charles III. The Duke of Sussex is seeking to expand his lawsuit regarding privacy invasion against News Group Newspapers, alleging that evidence provided by the media conglomerate suggests illicit eavesdropping on his family.
According to Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, the intercepted calls included conversations between Diana, Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla. These interceptions reportedly exposed private information about Harry dating back to his childhood, as early as age 9. Diana had expressed suspicions of being followed and her calls being monitored, as detailed in court documents.
Sherborne highlighted that articles in The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World referenced Diana’s private conversations and movements, indicating insider knowledge obtained through unlawful means. He accused the newspapers of dismissing Diana’s concerns as “paranoid delusions” while, in reality, she was under surveillance and her calls were being intercepted by News Group Newspapers.
The new allegations follow Harry’s previous claims implicating Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul behind News Group Newspapers, suggesting his involvement in covering up unlawful activities within his newspapers. Harry is among 45 claimants, including notable figures like Hugh Grant and Guy Ritchie, alleging widespread privacy violations by News Group journalists from 1994 to 2016.
Defense lawyer Anthony Hudson countered that Harry’s new claims seemed aimed at grabbing headlines and argued that they were brought too late and without following proper court procedure. He suggested that the allegations served as a distraction from the core issues of the case, scheduled for trial in January.
News Group Newspapers responded to the allegations, denouncing them as unjustified attacks on former journalists and executives. The parent company, News UK, dismissed the claims as baseless and criticized the attempt to tarnish the reputation of its staff.
Judge Timothy Fancourt, responsible for ruling on the amendment to Harry’s lawsuit, had previously rejected attempts by News Group to dismiss the case due to time limitations. However, he ruled against Harry and Grant’s claims of voicemail interception, arguing that the widespread knowledge of the phone hacking scandal should have prompted earlier legal action.
This lawsuit forms part of Harry’s broader campaign against British tabloids, motivated by personal grievances and his desire to protect his family’s privacy. He has previously secured victories against Mirror Group Newspapers and has ongoing legal proceedings against the owner of the Daily Mail.
Harry’s legal battles reflect his determination to hold the press accountable for intrusive practices, echoing his longstanding criticism of media intrusion, which he believes contributed to his mother’s tragic death and influenced his decision to relocate to the United States with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
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