Court Judgment Raises Concerns for Royal Family’s Future
A court judgment on Thursday has left King Charles and Prince William along with their spouses feeling “massively irritated” at the potential repercussions it could bring. The judgment ruled that Prince Harry would return to the High Court witness box, possibly revealing more embarrassing details about the royal family. A friend of the family expressed their frustration to The Daily Beast, stating that while they accept Harry’s right to privacy as a private citizen, they cannot help but feel irritated by the prospect of more trials and the ongoing defamation case against the Mail. Despite this, the royals are determined to forge ahead with their plans to rejuvenate the royal brand through extensive global travel.
Another source suggested that it was inevitable for Harry or Meghan to continue making court appearances, release new books, or produce films. The “no comment” policy adopted by the family thus far has been considered successful, leading to the decision to stick with the overall strategy. This comes after a senior judge ruled that Harry could proceed with his legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of unlawful information gathering techniques used by the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.
To the relief of the royals, the judge also dismissed Harry’s claims of phone hacking, as evidence supporting the allegation was lacking. While neither the king nor Prince William’s office provided a comment on the judgment, NGN celebrated the decision to remove the phone hacking portion of the claims. Former Member of Parliament Evan Harris, associated with the Hacked Off organization, deemed this a “major strategic setback for NGN,” as they aimed to avoid a court showdown.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens suggested that, despite the judgment favoring NGN by dismissing the phone hacking claims, it still posed a problem for the newspapers. He noted that the newspapers needed to win all aspects of the case, whereas Harry only needed to demonstrate a single example of unlawful newsgathering to succeed. As the trial was initially planned for January, there have been speculations that the timetable may need adjusting. The written judgment mentioned a potential trial date for “2024 or 2025.”
The extended legal battle is a cause for concern for King Charles and Prince William, who have prioritized burnishing the royal brand on the international stage over the next few years. This endeavor aims to prevent the potential breakup of the Commonwealth, primarily held together by the late Queen Elizabeth II’s determination and affection. The Mail on Sunday recently reported plans for state visits and even the possibility of Kate and William bringing their children on these overseas ventures.
To maximize efforts, the royals are eager for King Charles and Camilla to embark on frequent overseas trips, especially to destinations rarely visited by a reigning monarch since Queen Elizabeth II ceased long-haul travel in 2013. A friend of the king reassured The Daily Beast that Harry’s litigation timetable would not influence travel plans for the next two years. However, the rest of the world and the global news cycle may not be as indifferent to the ongoing legal battles, posing potential challenges for the royal family’s objectives.