Prince Harry emotionally testified that his wife Meghan Markle endured “absolute misery” during her time as a royal while he pursued legal action against publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The Duke of Sussex, 41, appeared at London’s High Court on Wednesday in his lawsuit alleging illegal information gathering by Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday journalists.
During questioning by his attorney David Sherborne, Harry became visibly distressed when asked about the trial’s impact. “It’s fundamentally wrong to put us through this again when all we wanted was an apology and accountability,” he stated, fighting tears. “They continue to come after me. They have made my wife’s life an absolute misery.”
Harry described feeling trapped in a “recurring traumatic experience,” comparing the proceedings to past media intrusions. He rejected the notion of public figures having no privacy rights as “disgusting,” referencing how press scrutiny also affected his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy. When challenged about details of his past relationship appearing in Mail articles, Harry suggested leaks could have come from intercepted communications rather than friends.
The prince testified earlier than scheduled after ANL’s legal team accelerated their opening arguments, prompting claims of “game-playing and dirty tricks” from Harry’s representatives. Following his testimony, Harry’s spokesperson criticized the publisher’s brief cross-examination approach, stating they avoided addressing most of the 14 articles in question. Harry added, “Today we reminded the Mail Group who is on trial and why.”
This legal battle represents the latest chapter in Harry’s ongoing conflicts with British media, which he cites as a primary reason for relocating his family to California after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.