Prince Harry may have won a legal battle, but in the end, it’s a hollow victory. There was a payout, yet no concrete proof of phone hacking. Once upon a time, it was common knowledge that private investigators pocketed cash while journalists remained blissfully unaware of their methods. But today’s world is a far cry from the tabloid scandal era that Harry continues to rail against.
At the heart of this ongoing legal drama is Harry’s obsessive, albeit misguided, war against the British press. In his eyes, journalists are the dragons to be slayed. Yet, the truth is, the real dragons — or demons — he battles are in his mind. There is no victorious slaying, only an ongoing conflict with past grievances and modern realities that no longer apply.
Harry’s accusations revolve around being targeted by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN), which also published the now-defunct News of the World. But Fleet Street, the heart of British tabloids, has changed dramatically in recent years. The tabloids he so despises no longer operate in the same fashion as they did after Princess Diana’s tragic death. Regulation, public scrutiny, and corporate ownership have neutralised much of the sensationalism and excesses that once defined British tabloid culture. In fact, what remains of their bite is still essential for democracy.
A free press is one of the cornerstones of a functioning society. Without it, scandals like those involving Jimmy Savile or Huw Edwards would have remained buried, their stories never to be exposed. The media plays a crucial role in holding powerful figures — from politicians to members of the royal family — to account. The British monarchy is not exempt from scrutiny. In a constitutional monarchy such as the UK’s, the press’s role in exposing power’s flaws is vital. The monarchy, as an institution, must remain open to scrutiny, as do politicians and corporate moguls.
Harry’s fixation on past wrongs is both corrosive and counterproductive. He is engaged in a battle with ghosts from his past, and in doing so, he drags his family and the Crown into this personal vendetta. Meanwhile, his father, the King, faces his own private struggles, including a battle with cancer, all while bearing the monumental responsibility of the monarchy. Yet Harry continues his crusade, adding unnecessary tension to an already fraught royal environment.
Harry seems to forget that he has two parents, both of whom are integral to the monarchy. The tragic loss of Princess Diana left a lasting impact, but now, at the dawn of King Charles’s reign, Harry risks overshadowing his father’s efforts to stabilise and unite the nation. Should anything happen to the King in his early reign, the ramifications would be felt by the entire family and, by extension, the nation.
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At the core of Harry’s campaign is a profound hypocrisy. He demands privacy for himself and his family, but at the same time, he has no qualms about invading the privacy of others, including that of his own father. He positions himself on a moral high ground, claiming the right to be free from public scrutiny, while still benefiting from the privileges and financial support afforded to him by his royal status. This double standard is evident in his approach to both the media and the monarchy.
While the press is not without its flaws, Harry’s ongoing demonisation of it is ultimately dangerous. Bad actors certainly exist, but they are not representative of the entire industry. Journalists — like any other group — come with their own flaws, but collectively, the press remains a crucial part of our democratic framework. Harry’s relentless campaign against the press risks eroding the very institution that plays a vital role in keeping power in check.
In the end, Harry’s so-called “victory” in this case is one that will likely bring little satisfaction or closure. His battle, it seems, will continue, but it is a war that risks only further alienating him from his family and the nation. The real question is whether Harry can recognise that the demons he battles are not in the press or the public eye, but within himself.
