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

This is what I said upthread....

I want to be able to talk about opacity of finances, the Duchies, the tweaking of laws to suit the Monarchy, equality and diversity figures, the yearly Royal Report (due shortly incidentally), a democratic alternative to the Monarchy, and more.

To my mind... unless you can talk about the inadequacies of the current system, you can't really talk about what could or should replace it. Which might sound like criticising the RF but no. That's personal. They are human beings in that position, no choice in it, so for me, it is criticising the Institution surely? There are alternatives and it would be good to explore those.

He wasn't standing up for people wrongly maligned in the press before he discovered he'd been hacked. He only uses their heartbreaking stories to tie his much more mundane ones to.

Why would Grant stand up for people wrongly maligned in the press? He was just living his life, like all of us. When it hit him personally he decided to do something about it.

I mean - isn't that how great discoveries and inventions have come about? Somebody is put upon by external forces - health, press, a limit and they set about changing it.

With that in mind this *by feeling sympathy for them, it rubs off on him * is cynical.

I applaud Harry's court battle but I would also suggest that he doesn't give a damn about the Wales children

Did I say he did? I said he was right about the narrative the media constructs and gave my own examples about the Wales children. And I didn't say anything about the Guardian so not sure why you mentioned that.

The problem is that the journalist on the byline isn't the only person who works on an article so liability becomes fuzzy.
The bylined journalist might write the main draft. Then a sub editor might write the standfirst and headline as well as editing the article. Another journalist could provide supplementary information that is slotted in, etc. Then a deputy editor or main editor could sign-off or make changes.
Also journalists can't be forced to reveal sources and don't have to maintain notes from old articles so even if they remembered the name of someone who called in a story twenty years ago, they don't have to reveal it.

Harry is taking a battering - but the point being made is that at least he had the courage to come to the witness box.

But what is important about that if what you're saying doesn't amount to much? All he's doing is rehashing articles that give him pain and suffering but not achieving much in return. However, I'm an optimist and I'm clinging onto the thought that his team have something in their back pocket and there's going to be a 'gotcha' moment.

You won't find many things much more removed from reality that Paddington 2, @Iwantcakeeveryday ! Haha.
I hope you enjoy it now I've built it up so much.

With that in mind this by feeling sympathy for them, it rubs off on him is cynical.

My point exactly, it's cynical of him. He could have just presented his own, presumably solid case, but instead he uses someone else's awful story for his own gain. Cynical manipulation. You're spot on.

They are human beings in that position, no choice in it,

They have no choice in what family they are born into granted but after that have as much choice as the rest of us.

I reckon they stay as Royals becuase it is an AMAZING life.

They try to presudae us it is duty filled and hard - but I am not buying it! 😁

Oh come on - this is a nice thread, let's keep it that way.

They have no choice in what family they are born into granted but after that have as much choice as the rest of us.

I absolutely disagree with this, Harry has proven it by being ruthlessly and endlessly harassed because he wanted out. Reading this case, its insane how little they get to do or decide for themselves, he didnt even have his own mobile phone acc, they gave him phones and could wipe them remotely. Its not normal to live like they have to and I think the fact they are in service to the public and have never had normal jobs also works against them because they then can't support themselves like normal people if they want top leave....

You could be right! But to be realistic... only twice in about 100 years has anyone walked away, Duke of Windsor, and Harry. And look at the furore. Edward and Wallis could swan around in the fleshpots of Europe without much trouble but it still created a massive scandal, threatening to engulf the RF even though the Queen paid Edward a massive yearly allowance to shut up. Ditto Harry walking away, and much much worse because of social media and his resentments.

So they are all trapped in their own way I think.. they just have to look back at history.

I agree... it ain't hard. There is far far more work they could do I feel but I will stop there as I don't want to make it personal about the members of the RF and also not move away from the thread title.

They have no choice in what family they are born into granted but after that have as much choice as the rest of us.

But look at what's happened to Harry for trying to make his own choices.

Yep. Agree. Total vilification from everywhere. OK, he hasn't helped himself at times but I get his resentment to be honest. The abnormal life he has led ending up today in court is understandable.

People still talk about Edward VIII leaving and Harry leaving will be talked about for decades. So ...not that easy to just bugger off out of the RF.

I don't think Harry cares if he wins or not. He's getting all his gripes about the press out in a oner. Chelsy, Paul Burrell, James Hewitt, drugs etc etc stories. I have huge sympathy for him for the first time in many years. It puts all that drivel about bridesmaids dresses, lip gloss and dog bowls into perspective. This is the narrative of a man whose life was ruined by the press and I hope he feels better now.

Entire case was worth it just to say that Paul Burrell is a two faced shit in court!

It must feel very cathartic for him (whether he wins or not).

TBF I don't care what his original motivation was, he has helped public awareness. I first saw him talking about it in an interview a few years back. He refuted that press intrusion happened because the victims chose to put themselves in the public eye, pointing out most victims were ordinary people ( who don't have the £££ to go to court) which many don't seem to realise. So many people appear to have never even heard of the Watsons for example but it's one of the worst examples.

I was never a fan in his early days but he's put his money where his mouth is, contributing to various worthy causes, including Hacked Off, with which he is still closely associated.

I don't think Harry cares if he wins or not. He's getting all his gripes about the press out in a oner.

I think so too. Because it's going to be hard for him to provide evidence for every instance that he suspects of unlawful activity. So much of it happened when young, so much of his memory was erased through trauma, and so much of the activity by nature is hard to prove, and he didn't realise till later anyway. Could have been just a word said here or there, and how to even prove that? But it's good that he's keeping the focus on his trauma and I believe he just wants to rectify the record, even if he loses. I still support him. I consider him a winner just for even trying to do this.

Yes. I am really perplexed as to why he would be criticised for doing what he has done. Ditto Harry.

He is certainly his mother's son...

Harry's uncle Earl Spencer at Diana's funeral.
"She talked endlessly of getting away from England, mainly because of the treatment that she received at the hands of the newspapers."

Absolutely.

I do not believe that he is putting forward the Watsons and all others in order to get sympathy by proxy and to suggest as much is very cynical.

I’m sorry …..i thought this was an unbiased thread about illegal practices in the press and how Harry is heroically taking this on for the common people. How is it a ‘win’ if he’s just proven that the press got the story from a palace source? Nothing illegal about that. Unbiased my arse!!

@MrsDaisyChappelle

Don't go.

Take a rest but come back.

Stay here with us.

I know who you mean, I also know what you mean.

Buy lets not let them take over, and kick us out.

But if you do go let me know where so I can pop by to say hello!

How is it a ‘win’ if he’s just proven that the press got the story from a palace source?

Because it would show that, despite their denials, they briefed against him. Which they deny.

MrsDaisyChappelle

I am so sorry to hear that. Do MNHQ not actually read the posts which are mass reported?

Thank you again for setting up this thread.