In a move that has further strained his relationship with the British royal family, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again thrust himself into the spotlight with his participation in a new ITV documentary, "Tabloids On Trial." The film, which aired on July 25, delves into the prince's ongoing legal battles with the British press and has reignited debates about royal protocol, media relations, and family dynamics within the House of Windsor.

The documentary features a rare interview with Prince Harry, conducted by British journalist Rebecca Barry, in which the Duke discusses his motivation for taking on the tabloid press. "It is certainly a central piece to it," Harry said when asked about the extent to which his legal fights have impacted his relationship with his family. He added, "It is a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press."

Harry's comments have not gone unchallenged. Broadcaster Carole Malone, speaking on GB News, accused the prince of hypocrisy. "Harry now is an integral part of the media that he despises so much," Malone stated. "He has become a media person and got very rich off the back of being a media person. He sells secrets about his family to the media. This interview is him being part of the media."

The Duke's participation in the documentary and his continued public statements about royal affairs have reportedly caused consternation within the royal family. A source close to the situation revealed to ITV, "Never complain, never explain has been the Royal Family's motto for over a hundred years now. Although some of what Harry says might be valid, the family doesn't want to be dragged into any more public media storms."

This sentiment echoes the long-standing royal tradition of maintaining a dignified silence in the face of public scrutiny. However, Harry's approach represents a significant departure from this practice, as he continues to engage with the media to air his grievances and pursue his legal battles.

In the documentary, Harry expressed a desire for family unity in his crusade against the press, stating, "it would be nice if we did it as a family." However, the source indicated that this is unlikely to happen as long as the Duke continues to speak publicly about family matters. "If there was some kind of media blackout and trust built between Harry and the family, it could lead to a better relationship," the source explained. "But all the while he continues to speak out or make comments about the Royal Family, it's not going to happen. He just needs to learn to keep quiet."

The Duke's legal victories, including a recent ruling against Mirror Group Newspapers for phone hacking, have been described by Harry as a "monumental victory." However, these successes appear to have come at the cost of further alienation from his family. The prince's suggestion that his mother, the late Princess Diana, was "probably one of the first" victims of phone hacking – a claim that has not been proven in court – has added another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.

Mirror Group Newspapers responded to the documentary, stating, "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. Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid compensation."

As the dust settles on this latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Prince Harry's relationship with the media and his family, questions remain about the long-term implications of his actions. While his efforts to combat what he perceives as press intrusion have yielded some legal victories, they have also seemingly widened the rift between him and the rest of the royal family.