PR Disasters thread 21

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The story continues...

It's behind a paywall @AtIusvue - can you archive?

Can’t- just brings up the title page no text for me.

This often happens with the times

Just tried, and The Times seems to be one of those who won't let you archive now, but I'm pretty sure the thing about Harry trying to settle has been mentioned before on here

Certainly it would back up the widespread belief that they only ever wanted a payday and thought the Mail would roll over - another misjudgement as things turned out

I love that they refused him. They knew all the evidence was utter nonsense….the DM knew they would win. Oooh that must have been joyful getting that begging letter!

Even better telling the Prince…..nah!

This was suggested but I was in two minds. How unedifying. What an absolute embarrassment

So the only info I can get….as it seems the Times is the only one with the story right now….is that he sought a deal a couple of weeks ago

They knew all the evidence was utter nonsense….the DM knew they would win

As our legal eagles have pointed out, nobody can absolutely know they'll win in a "balance of probabilitiies" civil case, @Atlusvue, but clearly they were pretty confident - and rightly as it turned out

I guess it's just as well there was a very rational judge in Nicklin, even if Harry and Doreeen maintain he's corrupt, and I especiallly liked the bit in his judgement where he wrote that he'd couched it in terms which laypeople would understand

Sorry! I’m wrong. He sought it a couple weeks before the trial even started!

The independent on the Times story.

‘Prince Harry and other claimants reportedly tried to reach a settlement with the Daily Mail publisher just a few weeks before the start of their high-stakes legal battle.
According to reports in The Times, the group used an intermediary to approach Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) ahead of the Duke giving evidence.
The report says ANL rejected the offer outright.’

I guess it's not unreasonable in the sense that the vast majority of civil cases never go to trial, and are settled out of court.

But it just shows how confident ANL were in their case from the very start.

Also, didn't Harry publicly criticise William for accepting a settlement from, I think, The Sun? He said it was the cowards' way out, or words to that effect, but that he would be the one to fight the good fight in His Majesty's Courts.

Wonder what he thinks now? Or does he think at all?

Which would explain why Harry tried to turn his time on the stand…..to air grievances/waterworks ….because he knew that DM refused and the evidence was nonsense. So he might as well get something out of it

Yes, they made a big deal about William settling. Harry acted as if he was doing Gods work taking on the press, come what may.

Turns out…..maybe not.

This was his last chance for some badly needed funds. Meg onto her divorce lawyer as we speak

Here we go
Prince Harry sought deal with Daily Mail before doomed court case

https://www.thetimes.com/article/5bbf47c8-2feb-4edf-ab79-c49511681f88?shareToken=14a5ee8773bd3612af3ab9a04fb659f8

Thanks @HoldMyWine

Sorry! I’m wrong. He sought it a couple weeks before the trial even started!

It hardly matters, @atlusvue; considering this had been going on since 2022 it was still very late in the day so a few weeks makes little difference

Not sure about Harry changing things to airing his grievances on the stand though. Ranting "poor me" and expecting others to accept his narrative as the truth is just about all he ever does, and why would he alter that for the court's benefit?

They made a big deal about William settling. Harry acted as if he was doing Gods work taking on the press, come what may

Edited to add yes they did, so now it's confirmed that Harry tried to settle after all that's yet more damage to what's left of his credibility

Oh dear, how sad, never mind ...

The claimants were really chancing their arms, good for ANL for not backing down.

So is the loser showing his face at anything today?

It's been said to be a 5 day visit, and given the flight time from LA I'd have thought he'd want to pack quite a lot into the time, but the only news is from yesterday

Thanks for that, I loved that episode.

Thanks. Had it settled Harry would have given a victory speech.

Wouldn’t he have just? Keeping quiet today though isn’t he?!

Given his adherence to "his truth," I'm only surprised he's not giving a victory speech now.

Anyone else find the new changes have made it hard work to read

Most of the most of the posts are well thought out so need to click more - this is encouraging a twitter style post.

Oh we don't forget on here !

Paul Dacre's reputation was at stake.

If ANL had settled, even with the usual "not accepting we did anything wrong" caveats, H and the Hacked Off crew would have been crowing about admissions of wrong-doing, accusing Dacre of lying to Leveson, and calling for Leveson 2.

Which they are doing now, anyway, because gettIng Leveson 2 was what this was all about.