The royal family made a deal with British tabloids to publicly ignore phone hacking accusations, according to a statement from Prince Harry.
“The policy was to ‘never complain, never explain,’” Harry wrote, according to People magazine. “There was no alternative; I was conditioned to accept it. For the most part, I accepted the interest in my performing my public functions.”
The prince said other members of the royal family withheld information from him so that he wouldn’t bring legal action against the tabloids.
“That has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation,” he wrote.
Harry and six other prominent Brits, including Elton John, are suing Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. They claim the company’s journalists used illegal tactics to obtain private information.
Harry submitted a lengthy witness statement in the case, which was released to media outlets on Tuesday.
”Associated’s journalists are criminals with journalistic powers which should concern every single one of us,” the Duke of Sussex wrote, according to the Guardian. “I am bringing this claim because I love my country and I remain deeply concerned by the unchecked power, influence and criminality of Associated.”
Tuesday was the second day of a four-day hearing that will determine whether the case can proceed. Harry has attended both days of the hearing, making a rare appearance back in London.
Associated Newspapers has argued the case should be thrown out on two technicalities: the accusations concern outdated actions, and crucial evidence should be suppressed because it was part of a 2012 public investigation into ethics in British journalism.
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