A High Court judge has dismissed Prince Harry’s claims regarding alleged bugging and tracking devices purportedly planted by The Sun.
Mr. Justice Fancourt, evidently unimpressed, remarked that Harry had provided no concrete evidence to support his long-standing accusations against the publication. It appears that the Duke of Sussex, alongside approximately 40 other claimants, is embroiled in a legal battle against The Sun's publisher, alleging that his personal information had been unlawfully accessed to create sensationalized stories. One might assume that such a serious claim would require a solid legal strategy or, at the very least, credible evidence. However, Harry’s allegations, as presented, seem more fictional than factual. His legal submission reportedly contained vague accusations that would fail to impress even a mediocre investigator.
In a preliminary ruling, the judge denied Harry permission to include certain allegations in his case, such as claims regarding his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy’s car being bugged. It seems Harry had already withdrawn this claim, perhaps realizing that his legal strategy was beginning to resemble the plot of a poorly scripted soap opera rather than a serious court case. Justice Fancourt made it clear that no specific details had been provided to substantiate the bugging claims, noting that the previously mentioned allegation involving Davy's car had been formally retracted.
Adding to the amusement, the judge rejected Harry’s attempt to broaden the scope of his claims by including terms like "listening" and "tracking devices," calling out the prince for failing to offer any substantial evidence to back these dramatic assertions. One can almost picture the scene: Harry clutching his legal documents, pleading, “But your honor, they were definitely listening!”—only to be met with a disbelieving shake of the head from the judge.
This is not the first time Harry’s legal ambitions have faced setbacks. Last year, Justice Fancourt dismissed his phone-hacking claims, ruling that the prince had waited far too long to bring the case to court. Harry argued that a secret agreement involving Buckingham Palace had prevented him from coming forward sooner, a claim the judge found implausible. It's as though Harry believes he's living in a fairy tale where the usual rules don’t apply to him simply because of his royal status.
Justice Fancourt has even likened Harry’s case to a prolonged campaign between two stubborn but well-funded armies. The image conjured is almost comical: Harry, wearing a metaphorical cardboard crown, leading a battalion of overzealous lawyers into battle against imaginary foes, while The Sun’s legal team calmly rolls their eyes and files paperwork.
Despite the ongoing legal drama, the judge has granted Harry’s legal team permission to make certain amendments to how they present their case, while also upholding some of the objections raised by The Sun. Notably, Justice Fancourt emphasized that the trial scheduled for January must either proceed or be settled out of court, offering a subtle nudge for Harry to bring this drawn-out saga to a close.
Perhaps the most ironic aspect of the entire debacle is Harry’s continued insistence that he is the victim. Some might argue that his complaints about privacy invasion are a classic case of hypocrisy. After all, he has hardly been discreet about his own life, frequently divulging intimate details like a leaking faucet in need of repair. The Royal Family has often been the target of his revelations—both before and after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II—and yet here he is, standing in court, pointing fingers.
One cannot help but feel a blend of sympathy and exasperation toward Prince Harry. It may be time for him to acknowledge that being born into royalty does not make him the most important or exceptional person in the world. The judge, evidently weary of Harry’s persistent claims, has made it clear: stop wasting the court's time.
