UK court says newspaper story about Prince Harry was defamatory
Send a link to a friend
[July 08, 2022]
LONDON (Reuters) - A judge at the High
Court in London ruled on Friday a newspaper article about Prince Harry's
legal battle with the British government over his security arrangements
was defamatory, paving the way for him to take his libel claim to trial.
Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, is suing Associated Newspapers,
publisher of the Mail on Sunday, for libel over an article in February
which alleged he had tried to keep secret details of his legal fight to
reinstate his police protection, and that his aides had then tried to
put a positive spin on it.
Associated Newspapers had denied the article was libellous, and a
preliminary hearing was held last month to determine what a reader would
conclude was the "natural and ordinary" meaning of the Mail story.
"I am satisfied that these meanings are defamatory at common law," the
judge, Matthew Nicklin, ruled.
He said the report implied Harry had sought "far-reaching and
unjustifiably wide" confidentiality restrictions and was responsible for
statements put out on his behalf, rather than his public relations team
as the paper had argued.
A reader would also conclude the prince "was
responsible for attempting to mislead and confuse the public as to the
true position", Nicklin said.
His decision means that Harry can take his case forward, and the Mail
will have a chance to put forward a defence.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jul/08/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/070822PIX/news_w2.jpg)
Britain's Prince Harry departs after attending the National Service
of Thanksgiving held at St Paul's Cathedral during the Queen's
Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London, Britain, June 3, 2022.
REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/Pool
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jul/08/images/ads/current/2022%20Business%20Directory%20Cover%20lda%202022.png)
"This is very much the first phase in a libel claim," Nicklin said.
"It will be a matter for determination later in the proceedings
whether the claim succeeds or fails, and if so on what basis."
The ruling comes a day after Harry's lawyers were at the High Court
asking for permission for a judicial review of the government
decision on providing police protection.
The libel case is the latest court spat between the newspaper group
and Harry, 37, and his wife Meghan, 40, the Duke and Duchess of
Sussex.
Last year Meghan won a claim against the Mail on Sunday after it
printed extracts of a handwritten letter she wrote to her estranged
father in 2018.
The couple now live in California with their two young children,
having moved there in part because Harry said the press was
destroying his mental health.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |