Prince Harry has taken the stand at the High Court, offering evidence against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.
This marks the first instance since the 19th century that a royal has testified in court.
As he appeared in court, Prince Harry’s witness statement was released, in which he stated that the decision to relocate to California was primarily driven by the “constant intrusion” he and his family faced.
He further revealed that the intense media scrutiny had a profound negative impact on their mental health and overall well-being.
Accusing Mirror Group Newspapers, the prince alleges that the publication employed illicit methods such as phone hacking to obtain stories.
He is sworn in, promising to “almighty God” to tell “the truth, the whole truth”.
The prince has a full day of evidence ahead of him.
Prince Harry’s witness statement has been provided to some media houses such as the BBC.
He starts by saying his decision to move to California with his wife Meghan Markle was “in large part… due to the constant intrusion, inciting of hatred and harassment by the tabloid press into every aspect of our private lives, which had a devastating impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
“We were also very concerned for the security and safety of our son.”
Prince Harry’s witness statement goes on: “It is no secret that I have had, and continue to have, a very difficult relationship with the tabloid press in the UK.
“In my experience as a member of the Royal Family, each of us gets cast into a specific role by the tabloid press.
“You start off as a blank canvas while they work out what kind of person you are and what kind of problems and temptations you might have.
“They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible.”
Prince Harry’s witness statement goes on: “As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well ‘do the crime’, so to speak.
“It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a ‘damaged’ young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers.
“Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile.”
The lawyer representing Mirror Group Newspapers is now questioning Prince Harry.
Andrew Green KC starts by referencing the publisher’s apology to him – heard previously in court – for one instance of unlawful activity.
The court previously heard a private investigator was instructed by a Mirror Group Newspaper journalist at The People to unlawfully gather information about Prince Harry’s activities at the Chinawhite nightclub on one night in February 2004.
The article is not one of the claims being brought by the prince.
Green tells the prince he will be entitled to a “more extensive apology” if the judge finds the newspaper group were responsible for further acts of unlawful information gathering.
This story will be updated as and when…