Prince Harry Submits 55-Page Witness Statement at High Court, Accuses Piers Morgan of Personal Attacks

On 06/06/2023, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, delivered a 55-page witness statement at the High Court in London as part of his legal case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), detailing allegations of unlawful information gathering and sustained media intrusion. The statement formed a central part of his evidence in the case, marking a rare instance of a senior British royal directly presenting detailed claims in a courtroom setting. In the document, Prince Harry accused former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan of overseeing or being associated with a period of aggressive tabloid coverage. He described what he called a “barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation” directed at him and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. The statement outlined numerous articles published over several years, which he alleged were based on unlawfully obtained information, including phone hacking and other intrusive methods. These claims were presented alongside specific examples of media reports that he argued could not have been produced without such practices. During the court proceedings, the legal teams examined historical reporting practices at MGN titles, including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and The People. Prince Harry’s statement contributed to the broader case assessing whether journalists at these publications had engaged in illegal methods to gather personal information about public figures. Mirror Group Newspapers denied most allegations of wrongdoing, although it acknowledged some past instances of unlawful activity. The witness statement was part of Prince Harry’s broader legal efforts to challenge media practices in the United Kingdom, particularly those involving privacy and press conduct. His appearance and detailed testimony drew attention to longstanding disputes between members of the royal family and segments of the British tabloid press.