THEPrince Harry has decided to withdraw its defamation lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)editorial group of Daily Mail. But this decision is not synonymous with his truce towards the tabloids.
Harry’s choice
Prince Harry has decided to put an end to one of three lawsuits he was bringing against major UK media publishers. In fact today, Friday 19 January, the Daily Mail announced that the Duke of Sussex’s lawyers have advised the newspaper that they have filed a notice with the court. «The Duke of Sussex stops all his claims“, it is read. No more lawsuit, then.
But What had pushed King Charles’ son to start this proceeding? It all started from an article published in February 2022.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, on September 13, 2023 in Duesseldorf for the Invictus Games. Credit: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
At the center of the case is an article from February 2022
Almost two years ago, in fact, The Mail on Sunday published an article alleging that Prince Harry had attempted to keep the details of his legal battle to have an escort in the UK secret, after – once he left the royal family in 2020 – he was no longer entitled to this service. Not even for a fee.
The article in question implied that some people close to the Prince had attempted to give a positive spin to the matter. And in July 2022 the High Court had ruled in favor of the Dukedeclaring that certain parts of the text were indeed defamatory.
Harry withdraws the lawsuit after winning another
But already last December – in the preliminary phase of the proceedings – the Duke of Sussex’s legal action had been slowed down. Indeed, the judge had ordered him to pay £48,447 to the publishing groupincluding compensation and legal costs, given that it could not be ruled out that the article reported an “honest opinion” that did not represent “serious damage” to the reputation of King Charles’ son.
As, now confirmation of the truce has arrived. Prince Harry has withdrawn his defamation lawsuit against the publishing group. All this, however, after that in mid-December he won another case, this time against the Daily Mirror. According to the judge, in fact, the youngest son of King Charles and Diana was victim of interception of voice messages and illegal collection of information.
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