A UK judge was not impressed by Prince Harry‘s claim of a “whitewash” following his lawsuit loss. The Duke of Sussex lost his legal case against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL). The Prince and other public figures filed the suit as part of a wider effort to target alleged privacy breaches by news outlets.
Prince Harry slammed by UK judge for ‘whitewash’ statement after privacy lawsuit loss
A senior UK judge delivered a rebuke to Prince Harry after he issued an extensive statement following this week’s legal defeat against the Daily Mail’s publishers.
Earlier this week, the Duke and fellow claimant Baroness Doreen Lawrence put out a joint statement following their court loss. They alleged that authorities overlooked generic findings about various private investigators. The courts in these parallel claims found that they carried out unlawful activity. It happened at the same time, over similar stories about well-known individuals.
“It is a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected. We came to court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither,” the statement read.
Per the Daily Express, Lord Burnett of Maldon, who served as head of the judiciary in England and Wales between 2017 and 2023, has broken his silence following Prince Harry’s “whitewash” remark. Lord Burnett condemned the “vilification” of judges, adding that it “crosses the line into a direct assault on the independence of the judiciary”. Speaking to the House of Lords on Thursday, he emphasized that the independence of the courts was of utmost importance.
“Examples are multiplying, and even this week, a High Court judge has been accused by disappointed litigants of ‘a complete and obvious whitewash’. Judges speak through their judgments and cannot answer back. That is why the Constitutional Reform Act imposes duties on the Lord Chancellor to defend the independence of the judiciary,” the 68-year-old explained.
Lord Burnett concluded by referencing the Constitution Committee. It found that hostility toward the judiciary had grown in recent years. He further cited poor criticism from politicians and others, as well as the government’s lack of support for the courts.
