In the ongoing saga of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a significant development has emerged, placing Prince Harry under intense scrutiny on social media for alleged falsehoods. This has ignited widespread discussion and a sense of vindication among his critics.
The controversy began with a statement made by Prince Harry in an ITV documentary.
He suggested that it would have been beneficial if the royal family had united with him to confront the media. However, contrary to Harry’s assertion, historical actions by the royal family tell a different story.
Prince William, in particular, has been proactive in challenging unethical media practices.
He played a crucial role in exposing the phone hacking scandal that led to the Leveson Inquiry.
The Leveson Inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson, was a comprehensive investigation into the practices and ethics of the British press, initiated in July 2011 following the News International phone hacking scandal.
The inquiry resulted in significant reforms in British media law and the prosecution of those responsible for illegal activities. Prince William’s involvement in alerting law enforcement about phone hacking underscored the royal family’s commitment to media accountability, contradicting Harry’s claim of inaction.
Prince Harry received a settlement of £140,000 after a high court judge ruled that unlawful methods had been used to collect evidence on him for tabloid stories. It was determined that 15 out of 30 stories about him by MGN (Mirror Group Newspapers) were the result of invasions of his privacy.
Despite this legal victory, viewers grew weary of Harry’s complaints about being under constant surveillance during his younger years, as expressed in the ITV documentary.
Many viewers admitted to switching off the documentary, expressing their fatigue with Harry’s narrative. Social media reactions ranged from frustration to outright refusal to watch the interview. Critics argue that Harry and Meghan’s strategy involves attempting to rewrite history by presenting their preferred narrative, assuming the public has a short memory. However, this tactic faces growing resistance. Platforms like Twitter are now actively debunking false claims, providing a counternarrative to the couple’s statements.
A source told Express UK that Harry’s desire to repeatedly air his grievances in public would damage his reputation and exacerbate the rift within the family. The royal family’s motto of “never complain, never explain” has been upheld for over 100 years, and they are reluctant to be dragged into any more public media storms.
“Although some of what Harry says might be valid, the family doesn’t want to be dragged into any more public media storms,” said the source. “If there was some kind of media blackout and trust built between Harry and the family, it could lead to a better relationship. But as long as he continues to speak out or make comments about the royal family, it’s not going to happen. He just needs to learn to keep quiet. The royal family doesn’t want to be dragged into any more public spats or negative press stories.”