Emotional exchanges as duke gives evidence

This was probably the last time we would see Prince Harry enter the witness box after many years of high-profile court battles with the press.

And after the tense, sizzling, emotional exchanges at the Supreme Court, that’s not something you’d think he’d miss.

It was a “terrible experience” He said the following about this latest case: It now faces Associated Newspapers in its third fixed legal dispute with a newspaper group.

Towards the end of two hours of questions, he challenged the “disgusting” notion that he had no right to privacy and spoke of the emotional toll the alleged press breach had on him and his family.

“They have made my wife’s life an absolute misery,” he said, his voice cracking in a UK courtroom.

Prince Harry, a tall, lean figure in a dark suit and tie, testified about what he viewed as a lifelong process of following the media, claiming the media used illegal methods to gather information.

He showed how personal this was for him by giving brief and sometimes tense responses to a series of stories that he said “commercialised” his personal life and those close to him.

This was something he wanted the court to understand, that he had been driven to “paranoia” by the constant attention surrounding him and his relationships.

At one point, the judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, intervened and told Prince Harry that he should just answer the questions and not dissent.

Harry was extremely polite, but in the same way when people are actively trying not to respond.

It’s unclear whether the witness stand had the same plastic signs as the other tables: “Please address the judge as sir/ma’am.”

Prince Harry has painted a picture where his private life is surrounded by concerns of leaks and intrusions, creating mistrust and suspicion in those around him.

He denied claims that some of the journalists who wrote these stories were part of his circle of friends. When it was suggested that someone go to the same nightclub as him, he quickly responded: “Good for him.”

Harry gave the court the big picture of the distress caused by being followed by the press and accusations that it was a stalking based on illegal methods.

He was opposed by the patient, unemotional approach of Associated Newspapers’ lawyer, Antony White; He offered an alternative explanation for the source of the stories, revealing how they were legitimately obtained.

While Prince Harry delivered the sentiment, opposing counsel appeared to want to focus on forensic detail. It was broadsword versus laser. Harry sometimes sounded more defensive than defensive.

As a show, one wouldn’t expect a courtroom drama to unfold this way.

Although Prince Harry was in the “witness box”, that meant he was sitting in a sort of raised wooden area, behind a computer screen and an array of microphones.

The courtyard was not one of those historic rooms with mahogany and Victorian furniture. The place looked more like a college auditorium by Ikea; Rows of lawyers were surrounded by boxes of files and papers.

In fact, the style of the courtroom appeared more modern than most of the newspaper reports discussed. Because so much of this case seemed to revolve around stories written years ago, in a completely different era for the tabloid press.

In the public imagination, Harry is thought of as the younger brother and son, perhaps forever younger. But here he was in court, now in his forties, going over stories from years ago.

There are still many weeks left in this case and each side will continue to argue their corner.

But from Harry’s perspective, he will have survived this moment in court by overcoming his sense of moral outrage while avoiding saying anything that would reveal new stories about his family.

Prince Harry said after his appearance: “Today we reminded the Mail group who was on trial and why.”

Both sides will claim to be ahead on points, but so far neither side has been able to deliver a knockout blow.

It was once a bombshell news that a royal family was considering asking questions in court, something that has not happened in modern times.

For Harry, after years of legal proceedings and the visible stress of going to court, this could finally be the turning of a chapter.