Harry and the Hackers

Prince Harry's name is yet again splashed along tabloids, but this time he is striking back. His decision to pursue legal action against The Sun newspaper, amidst claims of phone hacking and the press ruining his relationships, is only placing him under more scrutiny from the media. 

Harry's life has largely been documented through the eyes of a camera lens, as expected when you're a young, good looking prince. With the press constantly infiltrating his life, the fame of being a royal doesn't come as a choice. Despite this, other royals such as Princess Anne continue to keep a low profile and live a life hidden from the camera. She also didn't marry an American actress and choose to leave the royal family, a decision that has seemingly hounded Harry as the media cannot get enough of knowing what him and Meghan will get up to next. 

Prince Harry does have the support of his brother, also a victim of phone hacking who managed a private settlement with The Sun. Another reason as to why Harry is desperate to have this put through. 

However, Harry has been told by Charles to drop the charges- perhaps as a bid to evade more negative attention? 

It's understandable that the media may have taken it too far in Harry's case, phone hacking is a huge invasion of privacy, with The Sun leaking stories on Harry and former girlfriend Chelsy Davy's phone calls whilst Harry was away at a military base. Naturally, this hasn't just affected Harry but also someone else, a running theme of tabloids drawing focus to his relationships- ending with Meghan. 

Meghan seems to be another factor urging Harry to move forward with his lawsuit. Her own subjection to media vultures who have portrayed her as a stuck up , money grabbing American have not deemed her as appealing in the eyes of the British public. Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah went into great detail about the abuse Meghan has received from the press, and her new family since marrying the Prince. 

Meghan detailed an instance where the Royal Family had concerns about her baby's skin colour throughout the pregnancy, with an unnamed family member implying it would be a shame if the child had Meghan's skin tone.  Furthermore, Prince Harry detailed the lack of support from his family towards Meghan being shamed in countless news articles. He went on to say that 'over 70 female members of parliament, both conservative and labour, came out and called out the colonial undertones of articles and headlines written about Meghan. Yet no one from my family said anything.' 

Harry and Meghan continue to show a unified front in their relationship, despite the Royal Family and the media conveying Meghan as the main instigator in their decision to leave the Royals. However, instead of attempting to live a life of relative solitude with their family and escaping from the front pages, Meghan and Harry have utilised their controversies and made money. Harry's autobiography 'Spare' amassed 1.43 million copies sold worldwide, their interview with Oprah gaining 12.4 million watches, and Netflix even making a documentary on the couple titled 'Harry and Meghan'.  They have certainly managed to keep the money flowing off the backs of the bullying and harassment they received.  

Could it be Prince Harry is pursuing the media as a legitimate act of justice for himself, or another way to keep his pockets full with the Royal family no longer offering the security he once relied on? 

To find out more about Prince Harry taking legal action-

Prince Harry news – live: Duke’s case back in court after Charles and William revelations emerge | The Independent

Are you a Protester or a Patriot?

 

The King’s Coronation is approaching, with tens of thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate the beginning of King Charles’ reign.  

However, amongst the crowds of people cheering, we are set to see just as many showing their disdain towards Charles and the Royals. Anti-monarchy campaign group ‘Republic’, plan to protest with yellow T-shirts and placards with phrases such as ‘not my king’ printed. Their efforts to remain controversial during a historic event such as the coronation of our new monarch will not be ignored, with royalists claiming it is disrespectful and an embarrassment to the country. However, some argue it's a right to freedom of speech that should be allowed to continue as protests do, as long as it remains passive and non-violent. Should our rights to free speech be persecuted because it may affect the reputation of the Royals?  

Seemingly not, as the Royals do a remarkable job of ruining their own reputations. Prince Harry is set to be attending the coronation, but on his own with no wife or kids present after their decision to cut ties with the family. A decision that arguably put them out of pocket, the only reason I can think of for Harry’s choice to ghost write an autobiography aptly titled ‘Spare’. Featuring confessions from the prince himself as well as a detailed story of him losing his virginity to an older woman outside of a pub (a story that fuelled many internet memes with a direct quote being ‘an older woman who liked macho horses and treated me like a young stallion.’)  

Perhaps it's for the best Meghan won’t be attending, amidst her explosive interview with Oprah and the claims of racist prejudice within the family causing her to withdraw, her presence would no doubt draw a lot of attention and speculation. Despite this, anti- royalists are set to cause their own disruption, a movement that has always been present, but suggests growing unrest as they make themselves more obvious. Will Charles reign help settle a nation battling political and economical crisis?  

It is easy to argue that the Royal family have become nothing more than a symbol of our country, a tourist catch. Without century old traditions and the occasional charity fundraising, they have no real power over the future of Britain. They are no more relatable to the average working class individual than a dog is to a cat. Whilst the older generation may look to them as valuable and pillars of society, the younger generation see them through fresher eyes, who did not witness their admirable war efforts and military service, but instead see them splashed on headlines besides words such as murderer and paedophile.  

This is undeniably down to social media, with news now having the ability to spread like wildfire. The royal family have been placed in an even harsher spotlight, with Andrew’s involvement with Epstein, Meghan and Harry’s own claims against the royals and even the past coming back to haunt with conspiracies around Diana’s death.  

The protestors will protest Charles is not a worthy king, but we will all watch as the crown is placed on his head so what matter does it really make if you are a royalist or not? 

To read more about the protests at the coronation, check out this article here: 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1760669/anti-monarchy-protests-coronation-poll-spt