Prince Harry wins defamation case against British tabloid
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Feb 3, 2021
Prince Harry has finally settled his legal battle with British tabloids the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline.
Harry sued Associated Newspapers for libel over two "almost identical" articles published in the newspaper and online last October. The ever-outrageous British tabloid's articles falsely claimed the prince had "not been in touch" with Britain's armed forces "since his last appearance as an honorary marine in March" of 2020.
"The truth is that the Duke's commitment to the military community is unquestionable".
Buckingham Palace has refuted claims that it "dictated" that Meghan Markle should remove her first names from Archie's birth certificate.
In setting out his reasons on costs, Mr Justice Nicklin reminded Harry's legal team that the objective of such a statement in open court is to enable them to "publicise the fact and terms of the settlement of the claim". But after the couple revealed their intention to step down as senior royals, they agreed to stop using "Sussex Royal" as a brand name.
Harry and Meghan have had a rocky public relationship with the Palace since their abrupt announcement a year ago regarding leaving their positions as senior royals.
The prince's lawyer told the court that Harry had in fact made "repeated and concerted efforts" to support the Royal Marines and other parts of the armed services - even though he had been forced to step back from his ceremonial roles. "Furthermore, the publication of such allegations will unfairly tarnish and diminish the organizations with which the duke is associated and thereby hinder the valuable work they do".
Harry will donate the damages to the Invictus Games Foundation, a charity for wounded or sick servicemen and women that he founded, she added.
Unfortunately this isn't the first time that the Duchess has had a fall-out with a tabloid newspaper; she's now in the process of a lengthy legal battle with the Mail on Sunday over the publication of a personal letter that she wrote her father, Thomas Markle, in the run up to her wedding.
The prince's representatives claimed this turn of events was ultimately misleading. "They did no such thing".
But the Duke firmly believes that the ten years he spent in the Army, as well as the continuing ties he has with organisations such as the Invictus Games Foundation, make him the ideal candidate.
The outlet declined to comment on the record.
