Shocking Revelations: Prince Harry's Court Testimony Sends Shockwaves Through UK Media Industry

Prince Harry arrives at the High Court June 6, 2023 in London, England. TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Prince Harry took to the stand as he testified against Mirror Group Newspapers for allegedly hacking phones. During the court hearing on Tuesday, June 6, the Duke of Sussex, 38, was questioned by Andrew Green, a lawyer for the publisher of the Daily Mirror. While discussing a story about him breaking his thumb at Eton, Harry stated that he was uncertain whose phone had been hacked.

“Are we not, Prince Harry, in the realms of total speculation?” Green replied. In response, the BetterUp CIO said he was “not the one who wrote the article.”

During questioning, Harry raised the possibility of his school landline being hacked while he was speaking with Princess Diana, but Green dismissed it as speculation. Harry was also asked about his use of the phrase "blood on their hands" in his statement, to which he explained that he was referring to certain editors and journalists who he believes are responsible for causing pain, upset, and even death, including that of his mother.

In his recently released 55-page witness statement, Prince Harry attributed the breakdown of his relationship with former girlfriend Chelsy Davy to the negative portrayal of him in tabloids. He shared that the media coverage ultimately led to Davy deciding that she did not want a life as a member of the Royal Family, which left him deeply saddened. While the Mirror Group trial began on June 5, Harry was not present for the opening statements as he was flying back to the U.K. after celebrating his daughter Lilibet's second birthday in Los Angeles.

The Mirror's legal team accused the Invictus Games founder of causing a delay in court proceedings, describing the royal's absence as unusual. Following their departure from the royal family in 2020, the couple relocated to the United States. Both the former military pilot and Suits actress, 41, have been open about the impact of British media on their decision to leave the U.K.

Harry has taken legal action against several tabloid publishers in Britain, filing three lawsuits in total. The first case against the Mirror Group went to trial on June 5th, with Harry and his inner circle claiming that their voicemail messages were accessed and other illegal methods were used against them between 1996 and 2011. The Mirror Group denied these allegations, stating that their journalists used legal reporting techniques. Harry's second lawsuit also centers around alleged phone hacking, with Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and Baroness Doreen Lawrence joining him as plaintiffs. This case has yet to go to trial.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Geoff Robinson Photography/Shutterstock

Harry's testimony marked a historic moment as he became the first senior member of the royal family to take the stand in court in over a century. In the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, he spoke about the duty and service he feels as a member of the family to expose the exploitation and bribery that occurs within the media and its impact on his upbringing.

During a visit to New York City with the Duchess of Sussex, Harry faced a frightening experience that resembled the tragic accident that claimed his mother's life. The pair were involved in a car chase after attending the 2023 Women of Vision Awards, which sparked rumors that it was a publicity stunt. However, the royal family strongly denied these claims, with a spokesperson for the Sussexes stating that it would be disrespectful to consider such a possibility given the Duke's family history.