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Original poster

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

972 replies

MrsMaxDeWinter · 06/06/2023 10:12

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

Diana, Meghan and the tabloid press: Harry finally gets his day in court

The Duke of Sussex has made it his life’s work to change the British media landscape. He’ll get his chance this week in the phone hacking case against the Mirror Group

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
26
CathyorClaire · 14/06/2023 20:52

when does a royal ever lose a case?

Not technically losing a case but Andrew took quite a severe financial and reputational beating for something he never did with someone he never met.

No intention to derail or whatabout.

Just sayin'

ArcaneWireless · 14/06/2023 21:30

Harsh moral judgements? On my post here? Or just pondering that things may not be as they seem?

Like some seem to have found recently, it is hard to remember what was actually real. It could just be that different opinions (as to how events may have transpired) can exist.

It seemed to have been ok to say as much on the stand. No proof there either if I recall. Just a probability or pondering.

And as for inventive? My opinions are no more inventive than any other opinions on this thread. No one knows. But, as said before, I’ll happily take on board any absolute statements from those who do.

I doubt very much they’ll be posting on here.

I reserve my harsh moral judgements for those deserving of it.

Roussette · 14/06/2023 21:43

"Like some seem to have found recently, it is hard to remember what was actually real. It could just be that different opinions (as to how events may have transpired) can exist*

Could I ask if this applies to the three of the four witnesses we have heard, or just Harry?
Because I'm looking at the case as a whole

Not saying you're not, just wondered if we're coming from different viewpoints

AmarilloSunser · 14/06/2023 22:45

Thread is about Harry

Wherestheheatwave · 14/06/2023 23:39

Roussette · 09/06/2023 07:59

That is just opinion from you. I read the article to which you are referring. Written by Petronella Wyatt who sounds quite deranged in her dislike of Harry. It just drips with venom, much like she has done for very many articles. As for 'according to a Davy family friend' ... I take that with a mountain of salt.

In part of the article she more or less says there's nothing wrong with phone hacking, she was hacked, and would be more worried if she wasn't as it means she isn't very important Shock Making out phone hacking is perfectly OK is pretty awful in my book. Tell that to Millie Dowler's parents.
Her article is vitriolic and unpleasant... that is her modus operandi. Wyatt is a great friend of Camilla, she wouldn't be writing anything different would she?

You don't know that she is hating this happening! She was bugged and tracked too! The fact Harry and Chelsy split up about 12 years ago and she and her husband happily came to Harry's wedding tells me they are on good terms and I imagine they have discussed this court case. Just my opinion of course, like your post is just your opinion.

Show quote history

Chelsey wasn’t married at Harry’s wedding. I don’t even think she came with a partner. I’m

Howsimplywonderful · 14/06/2023 23:56

Chelsy’s husband didn’t attend Harry and Meghan’s wedding, they weren’t even together at this point so how they managed to ‘happily attend the wedding together’ and it’s somehow ‘evidence they’re on good terms’ with Harry.

Haywirecity · 15/06/2023 00:02

CathyorClaire · 14/06/2023 20:52

when does a royal ever lose a case?

Not technically losing a case but Andrew took quite a severe financial and reputational beating for something he never did with someone he never met.

No intention to derail or whatabout.

Just sayin'

He didn't go through the British court system. He was being sued in the US courts. Different kettle of fish.

4plusthehound · 15/06/2023 01:31

Roussette · 14/06/2023 12:47

Sherborne says that various private investigation companies would try to "conceal" what their activities actually involved on invoices to journalists.

For example, he claims some searches labelled as "electoral roll" or "date of birth" were actually credit checks.

He says a search where journalists were trying to find out the name of a cancer patient "shows beneath the surface what kind of activity was going on" at MGN.

The more that comes out the more it dmonstartes how nasty the tabloid industry is.

Top that with the lobby power the owners have and we as a population are in a bit of a fix.

I shudder reading some if it - in a way there but for the grace of God right? Anyoe could get caught up.

4plusthehound · 15/06/2023 01:35

Howsimplywonderful · 14/06/2023 13:14

@Iwantcakeeveryday

I don’t think any supporting evidence was provided by Harry for example a supporting witness statement, phone records, a police report on the ‘listening device on his car’

if you think Harry’s a truthful person perhaps his word on it’s own is enough, but if you don’t think ‘his truth’ and ‘the truth’ are the same, it’s perfectly reasonable to want something else to support his allegations.

I know what you mean.

I think you should ring and ask!

4plusthehound · 15/06/2023 01:39

Iwantcakeeveryday · 14/06/2023 13:40

I do not believe in such a thing as 'the ultimate truth' in circumstances relating to personal relationships, there are things that are true to the individual.

I don't think these cases can be won on only someones word, whether or not you might think its likely based on the behaviour of the press at the time and the fact they've admitted to hacking his family and many many others. I have seen other people state he does have evidence like the ones you would want, phone records, PI invoices at the same times as certain stories were published... If there is a link to something official that shows us each peice of evidence for each claim, so we could compare, I would definitely be interested in seeing that.

Show quote history

@Iwantcakeeveryday

Do you see any similarities to a rape trial?

I do.

Cast doubt - wrong time, day was wrong, drug use, unkempt - all to build a picture of someone not reliable.

It is interesting to watch - both from certain posters as well as the tabloid reporting.

AmarilloSunser · 15/06/2023 06:36

Howsimplywonderful · 14/06/2023 23:56

Chelsy’s husband didn’t attend Harry and Meghan’s wedding, they weren’t even together at this point so how they managed to ‘happily attend the wedding together’ and it’s somehow ‘evidence they’re on good terms’ with Harry.

its “their truth”

other words - not true

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:11

@Wherestheheatwave
Regarding this post last night, I know that. Someone corrected me on that post post you picked up on from nearly a week ago??! I actually then followed up correcting what I had written and saying she had walked into church with a guy who I had assumed wrongly it was her husband. All done and dusted.

@Howsimplywonderful Please see above. I corrected my post six days ago, so there is really no need for you to jump in like that. Shock

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:14

4plusthehound · 15/06/2023 01:39

@Iwantcakeeveryday

Do you see any similarities to a rape trial?

I do.

Cast doubt - wrong time, day was wrong, drug use, unkempt - all to build a picture of someone not reliable.

It is interesting to watch - both from certain posters as well as the tabloid reporting.

Show quote history

Oh yes. I have thought this repeatedly. But haven't dare voice it to be honest.

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:15

AmarilloSunser · 15/06/2023 06:36

its “their truth”

other words - not true

Show quote history

Please see my post about this, it will clear it up for you 👍

SunnyEgg · 15/06/2023 07:17

4plusthehound · 15/06/2023 01:39

@Iwantcakeeveryday

Do you see any similarities to a rape trial?

I do.

Cast doubt - wrong time, day was wrong, drug use, unkempt - all to build a picture of someone not reliable.

It is interesting to watch - both from certain posters as well as the tabloid reporting.

Show quote history

Do you and others mean this about Harry or the women testifying

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:38

I think this is worth seeing. A round-up of yesterday's events

  • David Sherborne, representing the claimants, finished up his opening - and said one of the articles in the claim had "all the hallmarks" of unlawful information gathering;
  • The claimants' side also claimed a private investigator had attempted to make blag calls directly to Ms Wightman;
  • Meanwhile, MGN's lawyer Andrew Green KC said there was "no evidence" of phone hacking in this case;
  • Ms Wightman said in her witness statement that someone - believed to be a private investigator - called her surgeon pretending they should have access to her medical records;
  • She also said she remembered a "suspicious" phone call to her ex-husband Paul Whitehouse's phone, and that journalists turned up at her elderly parents' house;
  • Her witness statement also describes the breakdown of her relationship with Mr Whitehouse as a "blur of unpleasant stuff";
  • Ms Wightman took aim at MGN journalists, saying "I don't really know how they live with themselves or how they sleep at night";
  • Paul Whitehouse also described the "digging around" for information on his ex-wife as "sick";
  • While finishing up her evidence, Ms Wightman choked up as she described her "shock" cancer diagnosis and the thought she might die before her children grew up;
  • She said that reports Mr Whitehouse walked out on his family "couldn't be further from the truth".
AmarilloSunser · 15/06/2023 07:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Howsimplywonderful · 15/06/2023 07:43

@Roussette

Perhaps best if you provide your source with your summary

Iwantcakeeveryday · 15/06/2023 07:51

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:38

I think this is worth seeing. A round-up of yesterday's events

  • David Sherborne, representing the claimants, finished up his opening - and said one of the articles in the claim had "all the hallmarks" of unlawful information gathering;
  • The claimants' side also claimed a private investigator had attempted to make blag calls directly to Ms Wightman;
  • Meanwhile, MGN's lawyer Andrew Green KC said there was "no evidence" of phone hacking in this case;
  • Ms Wightman said in her witness statement that someone - believed to be a private investigator - called her surgeon pretending they should have access to her medical records;
  • She also said she remembered a "suspicious" phone call to her ex-husband Paul Whitehouse's phone, and that journalists turned up at her elderly parents' house;
  • Her witness statement also describes the breakdown of her relationship with Mr Whitehouse as a "blur of unpleasant stuff";
  • Ms Wightman took aim at MGN journalists, saying "I don't really know how they live with themselves or how they sleep at night";
  • Paul Whitehouse also described the "digging around" for information on his ex-wife as "sick";
  • While finishing up her evidence, Ms Wightman choked up as she described her "shock" cancer diagnosis and the thought she might die before her children grew up;
  • She said that reports Mr Whitehouse walked out on his family "couldn't be further from the truth".

Thanks for keeping it to the topic, I think this is from Sky news? Clearly a media summary anyhow. Thanks again.

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:52

This reply has been deleted

We've removed this as it relates directly to a post that we've deleted

Roussette · 15/06/2023 07:54

Howsimplywonderful · 15/06/2023 07:43

@Roussette

Perhaps best if you provide your source with your summary

I do apologise. Here you are
https://news.sky.com/story/prince-harry-court-case-latest-comedians-ex-wife-up-next-over-ovarian-cancer-doorstep-12881275

It is the news feed from Sky I have regularly linked to on this thread.

Iwantcakeeveryday · 15/06/2023 07:54

SunnyEgg · 15/06/2023 07:17

Do you and others mean this about Harry or the women testifying

Show quote history

I take it to mean the tactics of the defence lawyer is being compared to the tactics of defence lawyers in cases like that.

Howsimplywonderful · 15/06/2023 08:27

@Iwantcakeeveryday

Thats a defence barrister’s role in ANY trial - to interrogate the witness’s account especially when there is no supporting evidence and it’s effectively one persons word against the other

Iwantcakeeveryday · 15/06/2023 08:41

Yes, obviously it is an awful tactic to use against rape or domestic violence victims in particular. I hate when they bring other unrelated events into those sorts of trials to discredit the victim.

Iwantcakeeveryday · 15/06/2023 10:41

Tonight at 9pm on BBC is a documentary on phone hacking and evidence coming out of the cases over the last decade

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mxb5

BBC Two - Scandalous: Phone Hacking on Trial

A look at the legal battle over allegations of the media's unlawful information gathering.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mxb5

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