Prince Harry wins first part of libel trial
LONDON • Prince Harry was defamed by parts of a Mail on Sunday article about his security row, a High Court has ruled in the first stage of a libel trial.
The Duke of Sussex is suing over a story that said that he had tried to keep “secret” parts of his legal fight with the U.K. Home Office and attempted to “spin” the dispute in his favour by claiming he had offered to pay for police protection.
In the first ruling on the case, the judge concluded that the article was defamatory in parts because it suggested the Prince’s actions were “discreditable” and that he had intended to “mislead the public.”
But the High Court judge noted that this was “very much the first phase” of the libel claim and The Mail on Sunday can now file their defence.
If they can prove the comments were true, an honestly held opinion or a publication on a matter of public interest, then they will not have been found to have libelled the Prince, legal experts said last night.
The Daily Telegraph understands that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the owner of The Mail on Sunday, is now preparing to submit evidence setting out why they stand by their claims.
The case revolves around an article published in February, following the first hearing in the Duke’s separate High Court claim against the government’s decision to withdraw the police protection that he and the Duchess of Sussex enjoyed as senior working royals.
The piece set out that when news of the legal battle with the government first broke in January last year, the Duke’s PR team put out statements saying that he had offered to “pay personally for U.K. police protection” but it was refused.
When that case was before the High Court earlier this year, the Home Office revealed that they did not receive any such offer.
An offer to pay is included in the Prince’s witness statement.
The Mail on Sunday headline read: “How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the Government over police bodyguards a secret... then — just minutes after the story broke — his PR machine tried to put a positive spin on the dispute.”
The Duke is suing, claiming the story suggests he lied and had “improperly and cynically tried to manipulate and confuse public opinion.”