The Prince and the Press: Continuing the Discussion on Prince Harry and the UK Media

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

A few weeks ago, there were three really great long running threads about Prince Harry and his battles against the UK "popular press."

I thought I would do one that looks at Harry's current court action.

For those interested in the kind of balanced view you won't get from the tabloids, all of whom face conflicts of interest, here is the Guardian take, which is the springboard for this discussion.

It is not possible to take any of the tabloids seriously when they report on Harry's legal cases. Former editor Alan Rusbridger, now of Prospect, has observed that all tabloids covering this story are acting unethically as they have not declared their conflicts of interest: Harry is suing all of their media houses.

The only papers with no conflict of interest are the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Financial Times.

So I will be following this from the Guardian live page.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/04/diana-meghan-and-the-tabloid-press-harry-finally-gets-his-day-in-court

The tracker wasn't just on CD's car. There was also one on a car belonging to a friend of PH and CD. It's damning evidence if they have a contemporaneous report to support it. No wonder MGN are trying to discredit it with outlandish theories. Any decent person would be appalled at a newspaper putting trackers on private cars.

Yes they would - any appalled decent person would surely have alerted the authorities straight away, and so that evidence must have been submitted to this trial

Perhaps that's why it was found?

Nikki Sanderson still giving testimony, from what I read she is holding her own really well, despite the defence barrister trivialising what she went through.

Do you have the feed for the trial now?

Hi @skullbabe

Yes.... here it is...
https://news.sky.com/story/prince-harry-trial-latest-updates-high-court-princess-diana-piers-morgan-mirror-william-12881275

But Ms Sanderson interjects: "I'm not public property, I'm not a commodity, I'm not an object, I'm still a human.
"Just because I consented to an interview or a photoshoot in the past, it doesn't mean any illegal activity is okay."

Thanks @Roussette I can have a catch up, I hope she is ok, it can't be easy doing this.

Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, points out she did many interviews with press.
But Ms Sanderson interjects: "I'm not public property, I'm not a commodity, I'm not an object, I'm still a human.
"Just because I consented to an interview or a photoshoot in the past, it doesn't mean any illegal activity is okay.

Yes! This is the point around privacy, just because you do an interview, does not mean you lose the right to decide which parts of your life you share with the world or that they can commit illegal acts to obtain other information on you.

So agree @Iwantcakeeveryday and I've said this below many a time... in relation to Harry and privacy...

If I burst into your home by kicking the door down. That's invading your privacy.

If you decide you want me to come round, invite me, open the door and welcome me. That isn't.

I very much like the sound of Ms Sanderson. Of course saying yes once doesn't mean perpetual consent. But defence barristers love that argument - 'but you said yes on the 25th Feb 1995, how was Mr X possibly to know that you had decided to change your mind?'

Exactly, and I'm glad that Nikki Sanderson is making that point clearly. She's not a commodity. She hasn't sold herself.

What she is saying is so powerful.
In her witness statement, Nikki Sanderson says MGN's activities have "changed the way I am as a person".
"I'm not as trusting. I am more paranoid," she says.
She admits she can't be "fully private" in the job she does, but adds: "It has affected my relationships. Even my closest friends who I know would never say anything… I still have this fear it's going end up in the newspapers."
Ms Sanderson says that even up until last Friday, she suspected someone in her life was selling stories on her.
"Only when you showed me evidence he wasn't did I believe it," she says.

Anyone who has been subjected to, for instance, stalking which is the nearest thing I can liken it to for the general public... it makes you completely paranoid. I get what she is saying, it affects you.
She is very brave

Poor woman. The thing is, it would really make you mistrustful of friends and family.
I do wonder if Harry's oft repeated claims that various people were briefing against him and telling stories about him comes from that mindset.

*If I burst into your home by kicking the door down. That's invading your privacy.

If you decide you want me to come round, invite me, open the door and welcome me. That isn't.*

I have't heard to described like that before, its a great way of putting it!

She is a very powerful witness.

I don’t think the analogy works for PH in the same way though. In their case it’s like… if I enter your house without permission that’s not ok, if I’m invited in with your permission that’s ok, if you invite me into your estranged brother, dad, step-mum, and SIL’s houses without their permission or you tell me their kitchen is an ugly colour and they haven’t hoovered recently… that’s… ok?

Thanks so much Rousette - will catch up now

I think Nikki really put into words just how crazy making it must be for people in the public eye - how she was driven to writing notes, checking and double checking that she's left nothing for the press, not being able to trust friends, family, colleagues..... Just a really terrible way to exist.

That must be a terrible existence. It's funny how some people are targeted in this way, yet other celebrities live completely under the radar and manage to have completely private lives. I used to live next to a very glamorous tv star who went to the local shops, took her kids to school, travelled by tube, whatever - she didn't seem to be bothered at all.

I've never heard of Nikki Sanderson <misses point of her case>.

Yes agree with this privacy analogy. Harry is more complex though because he means but he will kick your door down and quote wtf he likes.

Me neither. I don't watch soaps like I don't read tabloids!

Just wonder though if she has more convincing evidence than harry?

Yes absolutely, awful way to live just because of the job you want to do.

I read once, don't know where, that Paul McCartney and his wife would do things like take the kids to Blackpool and people would tell him he looked like Paul McCartney but they didn't think it was him as he wasn't wearing dark glasses and a hat with security men behind him. I thought it was an interesting take on it.