Prince Harry's court battle against Rupert Murdoch's British tabloids officially kicks off in London on Monday, marking a significant moment in his ongoing pursuit for accountability over alleged illegal activities committed by News Group Newspapers. While Harry may not take the stand for the initial two weeks, the proceedings will examine the troubling practices of tabloids during the 1990s through early 2010s.
Lawyers representing the duke intend to demonstrate that executives at News Group engaged in the systematic hacking of his and other celebrities' phones to unveil private information. The potential fallout from this case could be substantial for Murdoch and former associates if the court discovers evidence of wrongdoing and concealment of such activities.
Currently, Harry is among two remaining plaintiffs from an original group of about 40, with many settling previously. Tom Watson, a former Labour Party deputy leader and another participant, claims to have been targeted by the News Group for political motives as well. Unlike others, Harry remains resolute in his decision not to settle, viewing this lawsuit as a critical step towards holding the British press accountable.
In an interview at The New York Times' DealBook Summit, Harry stated, “One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I am the last person that can actually achieve that,” emphasizing his commitment to addressing this dark chapter of media history that includes tactics of hiring private investigators and deceitful reporting methods.
