Prince Harry has once again shed light on the strained relationship with his father, King Charles III, and his older brother, Prince William, attributing the rift significantly to his ongoing battle with U.K. tabloids. In a new ITV documentary titled "Tabloids on Trial," which premieres Thursday, the Duke of Sussex delves into the impact of the press on his family ties and calls for collective action against unethical media practices.

In the documentary, Harry discusses the divergent approaches he and his family have taken toward the British tabloids. While he has been vocal and litigious, filing four lawsuits against U.K. publishers for phone hacking and other unlawful acts, Prince William allegedly settled out of court with News Group Newspapers (NGN) in 2020, reportedly receiving a "very large sum of money." This settlement, Harry claims, was part of a "secret agreement" between NGN and the royal family.

"It is certainly a central piece to it," Harry said when asked by ITV reporter Rebecca Barry to what extent his fight against the tabloids had affected his relationship with his family. He acknowledged the difficulty of discussing his family issues publicly, noting, "Anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press."

Harry's frustration with the British media is well-documented. Over the past several years, he has repeatedly spoken out against the intrusion and misinformation propagated by certain tabloids. His legal battles include a notable victory last December, when a judge ruled in his favor in a phone hacking lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and The Sunday People. MGN later issued a statement acknowledging their past wrongdoings, apologizing, and stating they had "taken full responsibility and paid compensation."

Despite these battles, Harry's fight appears to be a lonely one. He expressed a desire for solidarity from his family in holding the tabloids accountable. "I've made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It would be nice if we did it as a family," he said. "I believe that from a service standpoint and when you're in a public role, these are the things we should be doing for the greater good. But I'm doing this for my reasons."

When asked about the royal family's decision to remain silent on the issue, Harry made it clear that he would continue his pursuit of justice against the publishers, regardless of family support. "I think everything that's played out has shown people what the truth of the matter is. For me, the mission continues," he explained. "But it has caused part of a rift."

The documentary also touches on the broader implications of the royal family's media strategy. Prince Harry's comments hint at a deeper discord over how to handle press relations and protect family privacy. His call for collective action underscores a belief that the royal family, given its public role, has a duty to challenge unethical media practices.

Harry's ongoing legal battles include cases against NGN and Associated Newspapers, highlighting his commitment to holding the press accountable. As these cases proceed, the spotlight remains on the rift within the royal family and the potential for these legal actions to influence future media conduct.

"We welcomed the judgment in December 2023 that gave the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago," MGN said in their statement to ITV. "Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility, and paid compensation."