Prince Harry Under Scrutiny in Phone Hacking Case and Pat Tillman Award Controversy

Royal expert Patricia Treble recently highlighted the intensified scrutiny Prince Harry faces amid his phone hacking lawsuit and the controversy surrounding his receipt of the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

In the ongoing phone hacking lawsuit against News Corp tabloids, Harry is under pressure to provide a personal explanation for the destruction of drafts of his memoir, “Spare,” and messages with his ghostwriter. The judge has expressed dissatisfaction with Harry for allegedly deciding what documents to disclose and has ordered him to account for the missing drafts and messages. This case, currently in the British version of Discovery, is set for trial next year, with Harry already having to pay £60,000 in interim costs.

The controversy over the Pat Tillman Award, named after the former NFL player who left the league to fight in Afghanistan and died in service, has also put Harry in the spotlight. While he was chosen for his service to veterans and the Invictus Games, Pat Tillman’s mother, Patricia, publicly stated that there are “more fitting recipients.” She criticized Harry as a divisive figure, contrasting the award’s tradition of recognizing unsung heroes. This sentiment has gained traction among sports commentators, reflecting Harry’s increasingly polarizing image in the US.

These developments underscore the challenges Harry faces, both legally and publicly, as he navigates these high-profile controversies.