Prince Harry’s phone-hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers is underway, marking the first time a senior royal has testified in court since 1891. The trial stems from Harry’s allegations that journalists from The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, and The Sunday People unlawfully accessed his voicemail and used other illicit methods to obtain private information between 1996 and 2011. Harry asserts that these privacy intrusions caused significant distress. The publishers of The Mirror have admitted to unlawfully gathering information about Harry on one occasion but deny hacking his voicemails. The trial is part of the Sussexes’ ongoing battle against British tabloids, with Harry involved in seven cases against media organizations accused of violating their privacy.

In his witness statement, Harry expressed his disgust towards Piers Morgan, The Mirror’s former editor, criticizing him for invading Princess Diana’s private correspondences. Harry accused Morgan and his journalists of subjecting him and Meghan Markle to personal attacks and intimidation. He claimed that the tabloids portrayed him as a “thicko” and an “irresponsible drug taker” during his younger years, which negatively impacted his self-perception and behavior. Harry argued that the tabloids constantly tried to manipulate him into doing something sensational for their stories. The defense questioned whether stories about Harry’s alleged drug use were of public interest, but Harry emphasized the distinction between public interest and what merely interests the public.

Harry revealed suspicions of voice-mail interception when he noticed strange patterns in his inbox, such as disappearing voice-mail symbols and unheard messages. He believed unlawful information gathering such as voice mail interception were used to write these articles. These incidents fueled paranoia in his relationships and created an alternative and distorted version of his life. Harry also mentioned how Mirror Group journalists lead to aggressive paparazzi pursuits and a lack of privacy. The intrusion contributed to the strain on their relationship and ultimately led Davy to conclude that royal life was not for her, which deeply upset Harry at the time.

The trial continues as Prince Harry seeks accountability from the tabloids for the alleged privacy violations and their impact on his well-being and relationships