In the ever-captivating world of the royal family, the rift between Prince Harry and the rest of the Firm has been a constant source of fascination and speculation. But now, the Duke of Sussex is pulling back the curtain, revealing the true catalyst that he believes has contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with his family – the unrelenting and often unethical tactics of the British tabloid industry.
Prince Harry’s legal battles with the British tabloids have been well-documented, but he now contends that these ongoing conflicts have played a central role in the deterioration of his ties with the royal family. “I think that’s certainly a central piece to it,” he told ITV’s Rebecca Barry in a revealing new documentary titled “Tabloids on Trial.”
The prince has been unwavering in his pursuit of accountability, taking numerous publishers to court over alleged phone hacking and other unlawful information-gathering practices. In December 2023, he was awarded a substantial £150,000 in damages after London’s High Court ruled that he had been the victim of “modest” phone hacking and other unlawful behavior by journalists at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People.
Prince Harry has revealed the “central piece” that contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with the royal family. ITV News
But Harry’s quest for justice hasn’t come without a cost. He believes that the royal family’s unwillingness to stand up to the press has only added fuel to the fire. “I’ve made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done, it would be nice if we did it as a family,” he said, expressing his disappointment with his estranged relatives.
The tension between Harry and the Firm has been further exacerbated by the revelations he has made in his bombshell memoir, “Spare,” as well as the couple’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview and their Netflix documentary. From accusations of racism within the royal family to bitter feuds with his brother, Prince William, Harry has pulled back the veil on the inner workings of the monarchy, much to the chagrin of his kin.
But the battle between Harry and the British tabloids has taken an even more dramatic turn in recent weeks. The publisher of the Sun newspaper has accused the duke of “deliberately destroying” potential evidence in his phone-hacking claim, alleging that he had deleted text messages with the ghostwriter who penned his memoir, “Spare.”
“I’ve made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done, it would be nice if we did it as a family,” Harry said. AFP via Getty Images
This latest development has added yet another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between Harry and the royal family, as he is now faced with the task of personally disclosing how drafts of his book and communications with his ghostwriter were destroyed “well after” he launched the lawsuit five years ago.
As the war of words between Harry and the tabloids rages on, the impact on his family ties has been profound. “For me, the mission continues, but yes, it’s caused part of a rift,” he acknowledged, highlighting the personal toll that this ongoing conflict has taken.
Harry was awarded $180,700 in December 2023 after London’s High Court ruled he had been the victim of “modest” phone hacking. Getty Images
The story of Prince Harry’s royal rift is a complex and ever-evolving one, with the tabloid industry serving as a central protagonist. As the duke continues his quest for accountability and justice, the reverberations of his actions are being felt across the entire royal family, leaving a lasting impact on the centuries-old institution. The question remains: can this fractured family find a way to heal, or will the wounds inflicted by the tabloid wars prove too deep to mend?
