Prince Harry failed to appear in court on the first day of his hacking lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) due to attending his daughter Princess Lilibet‘s second birthday.
According to the BBC, Prince Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said he would not be available for the proceedings. Sherborne explained that the prince’s absence was due to his daughter’s birthday party, the complexity of his security arrangements, and the initial expectation that the opening statements would take up the first day in court.
The case is before High Court Judge Sir Timothy Fancourt, who reprimanded Prince Harry for his absence. Mr. Justice Fancourt corrected Sherborne’s statement and stressed that Prince Harry had disregarded his instructions.
“It was anticipated that they might – which is why I directed that the first witness [Prince Harry] should be available.”
Critics of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gathered in the vitriolic r/SaintMeghanMarkle subreddit to bask in their schadenfreude over Mr. Justice Fancourt’s rebuke of Prince Harry.
One Redditor argued that Prince Harry’s absence aligns with their view of the former senior royal’s entitled behavior.
Another naysayer cataloged a list of what they perceive as the Sussexes using their privilege to transcend laws that apply to regular citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
The biases of a subreddit devoted to discrediting a public figure are hardly a barometer for diverse opinions. Many of the comments are scathing and unkind. However, Prince Harry continues to enjoy the support of his numerous fans.
In this instance, his absence does not seem deliberate, and prioritizing family events is understandable. However, not appearing in court at the last minute could be perceived as disregarding legal obligations and undermining the judicial process.
Prince Harry’s hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers remains ongoing.
Published: Jun 5, 2023 01:11 pm