Court Rejects Prince Harry’s Attempt to Add Rupert Murdoch to Lawsuit

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Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London, Britain, June 3, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool

The High Court has blocked Prince Harry’s Attempt to expand Lawsuit Against Rupert Murdoch’s Media British tabloid newspapers.

In a significant legal setback for Prince Harry, London’s High Court has ruled that he cannot amend his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloid newspapers to include new allegations involving his wife, Meghan Markle, or to bring claims directly against the media mogul himself.

This decision, delivered on Tuesday, marks a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battles between the Duke of Sussex and the media empire.

Prince Harry, along with over 40 other claimants, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over accusations of unlawful activities carried out by journalists and private investigators associated with two of its publications: the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

The alleged illegal activities span from the mid-1990s until 2016, encompassing a range of privacy violations and unethical reporting practices.

In March, Prince Harry sought to expand the scope of his lawsuit by adding new allegations. These included claims that private investigators, acting on behalf of the Sun, targeted Meghan Markle, his then-girlfriend and now wife, in 2016. However, the High Court’s recent ruling denies this request, limiting the scope of Harry’s legal battle against NGN.

This legal clash underscores the fraught relationship between the British royal and the tabloid press, which has been marked by repeated accusations of invasion of privacy and unethical journalism. The prince’s efforts to hold the media accountable for their actions have garnered significant public attention, highlighting broader concerns about press freedom, accountability, and the protection of individual privacy.

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Despite this setback, the lawsuit against NGN proceeds, with Prince Harry and the other claimants continuing to seek justice for the alleged wrongdoings. The court’s decision to restrict the scope of the lawsuit emphasizes the challenges faced by individuals seeking to challenge powerful media conglomerates and their influential figures.

As this legal drama unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact the broader discourse on media ethics and the legal boundaries of journalistic practices. For now, Prince Harry’s fight against the tabloids is set to continue, albeit on a narrower front than he had hoped.

In a pivotal ruling on Tuesday, Judge Timothy Fancourt of London’s High Court denied Prince Harry’s request to amend his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloid newspapers to include new allegations involving his wife Meghan Markle and historical claims related to his late mother, Princess Diana. This decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle between the Duke of Sussex and Murdoch’s media empire.

Prince Harry’s lawsuit, which is part of a larger action involving over 40 claimants, targets News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful activities by journalists and private investigators affiliated with the Sun and the now-defunct News of the World. The accusations span from the mid-1990s to 2016, encompassing a wide range of privacy violations and unethical journalistic practices.

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