Lawyers representing Prince Harry and other claimants are seeking to amend their London lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's tabloid newspapers in the United Kingdom.
Their aim is to allege that the media magnate was personally involved in covering up wrongdoing. Harry, along with more than 40 others, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over accusations of unlawful invasions of privacy by its tabloids, including The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, spanning from the mid-1990s until 2016.
Among the other claimants are film director Guy Ritchie, actor Hugh Grant, several former senior politicians, and campaigner Doreen Lawrence. Harry is also part of a separate lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The case against NGN is scheduled to go to trial, lasting up to 8 weeks beginning in January.
On Wednesday, lawyers for the claimants asked Judge Timothy F. Cour for permission to add new allegations to the case against NGN. These include claims that senior executives gave misleading evidence to Parliament and a public inquiry. Allegations were made that individuals like M. Do 93 knowingly provided false evidence, and that Rebecca Brooks, the chief executive of News UK's newspaper arm in the country, and others deliberately misled at her criminal trial in 2014.
The claimants also named Will LS, a former News International executive and now publisher of the Washington Post, as being involved in the alleged cover-up. An NGN spokesperson countered, stating that the allegations against current and former NGN staff were a "scurrilous and cynical attack" on their integrity. They asserted that these allegations were unrelated to seeking compensation for victims of phone hacking or unlawful information gathering.
Regarding the legal intricacies, it's intriguing to ponder if Harry could sue himself and his wife for violating his privacy. One wonders how he might maneuver to put Murdoch on the stand. While Murdoch's appearance in court wouldn't be unprecedented, it would certainly be fascinating. However, Harry's motivations seem complex.
It's not solely about seeking retribution against Murdoch or Piers Morgan; it's also about attacking the monarchy. Harry alleges that the Queen engaged in secret discussions regarding suing NGN and even gave him her blessing to pursue legal action. However, these claims lack substantiation and only surfaced after the Queen's passing, making them difficult to refute.
Moreover, Harry's legal claim implicates his father, Prince Charles, suggesting that Charles obstructed Harry's pursuit of legal action to protect his own interests and those of Camilla. Harry appears to ignore private settlements offered to the Royals, including a substantial sum offered to him, preferring to pursue a larger settlement, perhaps driven by a desire to outdo his brother, William.
