In a recent turn of events, Neil Shaes presented classified video evidence that contradicts Prince Harry's claims made during a televised interview.
This revelation casts a critical light on Harry's statements and motivations, highlighting a complex interplay between his public persona and personal grievances. Prince Harry believes that his ongoing battle against UK tabloids is a significant reason for his estrangement from his father, King Charles III, and older brother, Prince William.
In a new ITV documentary premiering Thursday, Prince Harry discussed the differing approaches he and the royal family have taken in dealing with tabloids, and the role this has played in the ongoing rift. Over the past several years, the Duke of Sussex has been vocal about his grievances with certain British tabloids, filing four lawsuits against UK publishers over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful acts. In contrast, Prince William allegedly settled quietly out of court in 2020 with one of the publishers Prince Harry is suing, News Group Newspapers, and received a substantial sum of money. Harry also claimed that NGN and the royal family had a secret agreement.
ITV reporter Rebecca Bar asked Prince Harry to what extent his determination to fight the tabloids had damaged his relationship with his family. "It's certainly a central piece to it," Prince Harry responded. He admitted that discussing the topic publicly was challenging, as anything he says about his family results in a torrent of abuse from the press. Harry then seemingly called on the royal family to join him in holding tabloids accountable, stating, "I've made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It'd be nice if we did this as a family."
During the sit-down, Harry emphasized that from a service standpoint, and given their public roles, these actions should be taken for the greater good. However, he also acknowledged that his motivations were personal. The root of the family's estrangement, however, lies more in Harry's actions—his tell-all book, numerous documentaries, and Meghan's outspoken nature—rather than solely in tabloid interference. Harry has been accused of selling his family's private matters to various media outlets, including Netflix, Oprah, and Apple TV, to remain in the public eye. His actions appear to be aimed at garnering sympathy and support while casting his family in a negative light.
Meghan Markle, his wife, is also implicated in these efforts, with allegations of orchestrating media coverage through agencies like Backgrid and ITV. According to Neil Shaes, a source working on the documentary revealed that significant portions had to be cut for legal reasons, particularly Harry's comments about behind-the-scenes interactions between the palace and the media.
The British media have not been particularly kind to the monarchy, frequently questioning royal finances and the value of a slimmed-down monarchy. Harry's accusations that the media get special treatment or access to the royal family to influence their coverage seem far-fetched to many. The documentary does not provide concrete evidence to support these claims, leading to skepticism about Harry's version of events. The volatile nature of the documentary means that it is still being edited as the broadcast date approaches, and for legal reasons, many of Harry's more incendiary claims are likely to be tempered or omitted.
The program ultimately presents a one-sided view, lacking the critical questioning and evidence needed to substantiate Harry's allegations. Harry hopes this documentary will set the record straight and garner public sympathy. However, the likely outcome is further alienation from his family, who have already addressed these issues with him privately. By bringing royal family matters into the public eye once again, Harry risks deepening the rift with his relatives.
