Prince Harry is taking a stand in his legal battle against The Sun, but he won’t be at the first day of his trial. The Duke of Sussex’s case against Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid is set to kick off in London, but Harry won’t be there in person on January 21. While reports circulated that he was going to get “limited police protection” during his stay, it turns out those claims are false. Harry is expected to testify later in the trial, which won’t happen until February.
The case revolves around accusations that The Sun used illegal methods to gather information about Harry, including phone tapping and other privacy violations. These incidents are said to have happened between 1996 and 2011, while Harry was still a member of the royal family. Harry claims that journalists and private investigators targeted him during this period. News Group Newspapers (NGN), which owns The Sun, has denied any wrongdoing.
There have also been rumors that Harry turned down an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace. Reports claimed he was offered a place at the royal residence but decided against it. At the same time, Harry is still involved in a separate legal fight over his security. In 2020, he lost his automatic right to police protection after stepping down from his royal duties with wife Meghan Markle. He’s been in court ever since, trying to reverse that decision. His next hearing will take place in 2025.
Although he’s not attending the trial just yet, Harry has made it clear that he’s committed to seeing the case through. He’s not just doing it for himself but believes it’s important for accountability in the media. Harry explained in a recent interview that he’s determined to hold journalists accountable for their actions, even if it’s tough. “I will be damned if those journalists are going to ruin journalism for everyone,” he said.
Many other people who were involved in the case, including celebrities like Hugh Grant, have already settled their claims, but Harry is one of the few still fighting. Grant, for example, admitted in a post that the financial burden of going to trial was too much, even though he felt strongly about testing the allegations in court. He pointed out that if the case went to trial and he didn’t win big, he could end up facing millions in legal costs.
For Harry, though, this trial is about more than just money. It’s about standing up for what he believes is right and pushing for accountability. He’s made it clear that he’s ready to take on the fight, no matter the personal cost.
