Prince Harry is in a legal battle with the press (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry is reportedly ‘close’ to making a potential settlement with the press in an ongoing legal battle. Now, one royal expert has shared how the ongoing trial impacted Harry’s relationship with his family – particularly his dad, , who told him “you won’t win”.
Jack Royston, chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, told ‘s Richard Madeley and : “I don’t think he [Harry] will have discussed it with his family back in the UK.
“His father used to tell him ‘just ignore the papers, ignore them. You can’t win.’ And Harry was furious when his father told him that.”
He continued: “Not only that, but his brother, said in a witness statement in 2023 William took the money to go quietly. We understand that William was paid about £1 million by News UK.
“It was considered a huge attack on his brother at the time so now if Harry does take the settlement, it’s going to look really really awkward.”
The GMB guest explained how King Charles felt about the law suit (Image: ITV)
It comes as The Duke of Sussex is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering. However, the company denies any unlawful activity took place at The Sun.
The trial had been due to start at the High Court in London at 10.30am yesterday morning (January 21) but was delayed twice. Barristers for both sides requested an adjournment until 10am today.
NGN’s barrister Anthony Hudson said both parties “have been involved in very intense negotiations over the last few days and the reality is we are very close”.
He said: “Very unusually, both parties are in complete agreement that this is a very important step.
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Prince Harry is reportedly ‘very close’ to a settlement (Image: Getty)
“The number of times the parties have been in agreement in this litigation are very few and far between. Both parties feel they have no choice but to persist in this.”
However, At 2pm, the trial judge, Mr Justice Fancourt, refused a third joint request from legal counsel to adjourn until Wednesday. He responded to the request saying the two sides had had “ample time” to come to terms, and he was not persuaded there was “a real will” to settle the case.
Harry first brought his lawsuit in 2019. He has said he hopes to get the truth, after other claimants settled to avoid risking multimillion-pound legal bills – which they could have been forced to pay even if they won in court.