- Prince Harry has been stuck in a legal battle with some media outlets
- Harry has sued many publishers over privacy concerns
- His legal team has withdrawn a serious claim
In a jaw-dropping twist fit for a royal saga, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and son of King Charles, has officially withdrawn his libel lawsuit against the media giant Associated Newspapers, the powerhouse behind the Mail on Sunday.
Prince Harry wants to pick his battles
At precisely 10:06 a.m. local time, the legal eagles representing the prince sent shock waves through the press with a simple yet stunning message: "The Duke of Sussex discontinues all of this claim."
The legal tussle began over a contentious article published back in February 2022, which suggested that Prince Harry was trying to hush-hush the details of his legal scuffle to reclaim police protection on British turf. The plot thickened when the High Court flagged parts of the article as defamatory last July, seemingly giving Harry's case a leg up.
Fast forward to December 2023, and the courtroom drama escalated with talks of Prince Harry possibly taking the stand in London, a move that would have made royal watchers and paparazzi alike go into a frenzy. However, the Duke has decided to lay down his legal sword just as the battle was heating up.
The heart of the matter, it seems, is Harry's undying love for his homeland. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed his deep sorrow over the forced departure from his royal duties and the U.K. in 2020, alongside his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Archie (4) and Lilibet (2).
"The U.K. is my home... a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States," he declared, emphasizing the need for safety on British soil.
In December 2023, it emerged that Prince Harry might be called to give evidence in London court after losing an attempt to have the defense of his libel lawsuit thrown out. Justice Nicklin said in his judgment that the Duke of Sussex’s lawsuit against ANL over the 2022 article should proceed to trial.
Prince Harry is focused on hearing the final decision as to whether the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) acted lawfully concerning his security as well as the safety of his family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to the Duchess of Sussex's home state of California with their son Prince Archie, 4, in 2020. Their daughter Princess Lilibet, 2, was born there in 2021. The Duke of Sussex's legal team has previously stated that he "does not feel safe" bringing his two children to the U.K.
He continued, "I can't put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life, I'm reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."
For the case, Prince Harry made history as the first prominent member of the British royal family to give evidence in court in 130 years when he took the stand against the newspaper group.
The last royal to do so was King Edward VII, who testified as a witness in a divorce case in 1870 and again in a slander trial over a card game in 1890 before becoming monarch.
Also interesting:
They're like twins!
OMG! Princess Eugenie's Son August Looks Identical To Prince Harry
"Is this a joke"?
Prince Harry's 'Living Legend' Accolade Sparks Online Debate
He looks very happy!
While this case may be closed, Prince Harry's crusade for justice against tabloid tyranny is far from over. He's previously taken ANL to task, winning a libel case in 2021 and pledging the damages to the Invictus Games Foundation.
And let's not forget his triumph over Mirror Group Newspapers for phone hacking, which he described as a "great day for truth."
As royal fans and foes alike hang on to every twist and turn, one thing is clear: the Duke of Sussex may have retreated from this battle, but the war for his right to privacy rages on.
Stay tuned to here for more, folks!
