Prince Harry has successfully secured £140,600 ($178,000) in damages from Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) following a legal battle related to phone hacking. The victory stems from the unauthorized acquisition of information linked to 15 news stories about Prince Harry. In response to the unfolding events, the legal counsel representing Prince Harry has called for a comprehensive police investigation into the questionable information gathering techniques employed by MGN.
According to a report by Newsweek, this legal triumph, however, has elicited a mixed range of opinions. Journalist Rachel Johnson, sibling to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, expressed her reservations about the repercussions of this victory on the Sussexes. Johnson, known for a 2016 column where she discussed Meghan Markle’s introduction of “rich and exotic DNA” into the royal family, voiced concerns about the potential impact on the British press. She emphasized the importance of maintaining both a serious and entertaining press, fearing that Prince Harry’s actions could detrimentally affect an industry she holds dear.
In her 2016 column, Johnson delved into the ethnic backgrounds of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, predicting that any future offspring would blend diverse elements into the royal lineage. However, the column was not without controversy. Johnson’s characterization of Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, as “a dreadlocked African-American lady from the wrong side of the tracks” drew criticism. Two days after its publication, Prince Harry’s press secretary denounced the racial undertones within comment pieces, labeling it as part of a broader wave of abuse and harassment directed at Meghan.
Rachel Johnson later expressed regret for her choice of words in a 2018 documentary, acknowledging the inappropriateness of the term “exotic” and apologizing for any offense caused. The term had been used to describe Meghan Markle’s diverse background. In Prince Harry’s 2021 docuseries with Oprah Winfrey, he referenced Johnson’s 2016 article as an instance of racist media coverage in the UK, contributing to Meghan’s struggles and even leading to suicidal thoughts.
Meghan, sharing her perspective on her podcast Archetypes, revealed that she started experiencing the stark reality of being treated as a black woman only after entering into a relationship with Prince Harry. She specifically pointed to Rachel Johnson’s use of the term “exotic DNA” as an example of the blatant racism she encountered. Meghan’s podcast statements shed light on her realization about the extent of racism in the UK, noting that it was a transformative and challenging experience that prompted the couple to distance themselves from royal duties and relocate to the United States in 2020.
The overall narrative encompasses a complex interplay between Prince Harry, Rachel Johnson, and Meghan Markle, with legal battles, public apologies, and accusations of racism unfolding against the backdrop of media scrutiny. Prince Harry’s legal victory against MGN serves as a pivotal moment in their ongoing efforts to address the invasive practices of the media. However, the broader societal impact, particularly on the future of the British press, remains a subject of contentious debate, with Rachel Johnson articulating concerns about the delicate balance between seriousness and entertainment in journalism.
