Prince Harry has “torpedoed any remaining bridges” with his family with his latest allegations!
As you might know, the Duke of Sussex is currently in London as he and six other claimants (including Elton John) are suing Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail, for allegedly invading their privacy by intercepting their phone calls, voicemails, and even bugging their cars and homes with the help of private detectives. The publisher has denied the accusations, but a judge will be the one to decide whether or not the case should go to trial.
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As part of this week’s hearings, Harry submitted a written witness statement describing another phone hacking incident from 2018 — which he believes the royal family hid from him! He alleged The Institution made a deal with News Group Newspapers (publisher of The Times and The Sun) that they “would not engage, or even discuss, the possibility of bringing claims” against the company “until the litigation against it relating to phone hacking was over.” He noted:
“The Institution made it clear that we did not need to know anything about phone hacking and it was made clear to me that the royal family did not sit in the witness box because that could open up a can of worms. The Institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about NGN’s phone hacking and that has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation.”
Like clockwork, sources close to King Charles III and Prince William are now calling out Harry for throwing them under the bus yet again!
While speaking to the Daily Beast on Thursday, a friend of the new monarch told the outlet the 38-year-old has ruined his relationship with his family by accusing the monarchy of “conditioning” him to not make a fuss (especially about media attention) and “withholding information” about the phone hacking incident. The insider expressed:
“Harry has torpedoed any remaining bridges with this statement. It is just six weeks until the coronation and the last thing Charles needs.”
When asked if they were surprised Charles declined to meet with Harry while he was in the country — the first time he’s been in the area since Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral in September — the confidant said:
“The trust is gone and I think that’s been made quite clear by the king refusing to meet him.”
Per previous reports, the Invictus Games founder reached out to his estranged family to let them know he’d be in the city for the trial. Charles was apparently too busy and William is taking time off for his children’s school break, so neither could make a reunion happen. Just another sign of how tense things still are!
Another friend of the family shared some insight into the Prince of Wales’ feelings, dishing:
“William is over it at this stage. If this was about his vendetta with the Mail that would be one thing. But Harry keeps doing everything in his power to try and embarrass the family. How can you have a relationship with someone who is doing that?”
Interestingly, a former Buckingham Palace staffer, who worked with Charles, William, and Harry, also clapped back at the latter’s claims the monarchy worked against him, telling the outlet:
“All anyone at the palace ever tries to do is look after the principals. And yes, that might include encouraging them not to take legal action on a regular basis as it rarely turns out well for anyone. The royal family could spend their entire lives suing everybody if they wanted. It’s so unfair to suggest those people, most of whom spend their whole lives working very hard for the family, for very little reward or recognition, were conspiring against Harry.”
It’s a valid point… That said, if Harry was determined to do something other royals felt would put the monarchy in jeopardy (such as suing publishers), then it’s not hard to believe they might have done everything in their power to stop him, such as (*maybe*) hiding essential information from him. Just saying.
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But here’s the thing. The staffer also doesn’t believe Harry was unaware of the NGN phone hacking issue, arguing:
“Harry and William shared an office and staff until 2019. The entire phone hacking investigation was actually triggered after details of a phone call between William and (TV journalist) Tom Bradby ended up in the News of the World. Harry knew about it.”
Oooh. If Harry knew, that would probably be bad for this new case, right?! It would at least make a judge question his testimony, we’d imagine. Either way, it’s more clear than ever before Harry would rather prioritize seeking justice for himself than listening to the wishes of his family. Certainly doesn’t bode well for a reconciliation! Thoughts?? What do you think this will mean for the coronation? Let us know (below)!
[Image via MEGA/WENN]