Prince Harry is once again making headlines, but this time not for his royal duties or philanthropic endeavors. Instead, he’s taking aim at the British tabloids, blaming them for his fractured relationship with the royal family. In a recent interview for ITV’s new documentary, *Tabloids on Trial*, the Duke of Sussex, 39, claimed that his ongoing legal battles against the press are a key factor in his estrangement from “the Firm.”
Harry’s comments came as part of a discussion about the documentary, which delves into the notorious 2011 phone-hacking scandal and the Duke’s own lawsuits against British publishers. Despite his repeated accusations and legal actions, Harry seems to ignore how his own behavior and public revelations may have contributed to the rift with his family.
“The central piece to the breakdown is certainly the issues with the press,” Harry asserted during his interview with ITV’s Rebecca Barry. He suggested that his family’s reluctance to challenge the press has only exacerbated the problem. “But that’s a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press,” he added, conveniently overlooking the role his own disclosures play in stirring controversy.
Harry’s legal troubles have been well-publicized. In December 2023, he was awarded $180,700 by London’s High Court after proving that he had been subjected to “modest” phone hacking and other unlawful activities by British newspapers. The Duke, who made headlines as the first senior British royal to testify in court in over a century, had sued Mirror Group Newspapers, claiming they had engaged in unlawful information gathering for over 15 years.
Complicating matters, Harry was accused last month of “deliberately destroying” evidence related to his phone-hacking claims against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the *Sun*. The publisher’s attorney, Anthony Hudson, alleged that Harry engaged in “shocking” obfuscation by destroying text messages with his ghostwriter for his memoir, *Spare*. Harry’s lawyer dismissed these claims as a “classic fishing expedition,” suggesting that the request for documents came too late in the case.
Despite blaming the media, Harry and Meghan Markle have done little to repair their relationship with the royal family, frequently airing their grievances in public forums. Their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey and their six-part Netflix documentary have exposed deep-seated tensions within the monarchy. During the Oprah interview, Markle claimed that the royal family had raised concerns about their son Archie’s skin color, a claim Harry supported despite his professed intention to keep such matters private.
In his memoir, *Spare*, Harry took aim at Queen Consort Camilla, accusing her of orchestrating PR attacks against him. He labeled Camilla, 77, a “villain” and criticized her in an interview with Anderson Cooper. The book also detailed his tumultuous relationship with his brother, Prince William, referring to him as both a “beloved brother” and an “arch nemesis.”
As Harry continues to navigate his complex relationship with the royal family, it’s clear that the media is not the only factor at play. His public revelations and legal battles have undeniably fueled the rift, making it harder for him to repair his ties with his family. The ongoing saga of Prince Harry and his shifting blame serves as a reminder of the intricate and often self-inflicted nature of royal family drama.
