A Timeline: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the media | World news
Britain’s Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and his mother were involved in a “tragic car chase” involving paparazzi photographers after attending an awards ceremony in New York, a spokesman for the prince said on Wednesday.
Harry, the son of King Charles and Meghan stepped down as king in 2020, some praised for standing up for his faith and making his own career path but others mocked for using his position to make money while cutting back on the royal family .
Here’s a timeline of the couple’s relationship with the media.
Year 1997: Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, was killed on August 31, 1997 in a car accident in Paris with her lover Dodi al-Fayed.
Year 2004: Prince Harry scuffles with photographers outside a London evening.
Year 2008An inquest into Diana’s death in 2008 concluded that she and al-Fayed were unlawfully killed by the highly reckless driver of chauffeur Henri Paul and paparazzi photographers chasing their limousine.
Year 2016
July: Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, and Meghan, an actress from Los Angeles, begin their relationship.
November: Harry criticized the media for prying into his girlfriend’s private life, accusing some newspapers of abuse and harassment, some of which he described as racist.
2018
June: The couple married in the medieval chapel of Windsor Castle and became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
October: Harry and Meghan announce they are expecting their first child while in Australia on their first overseas trip.
Year 2019
March: Buckingham Palace announces that Harry and Meghan will set up their own home, ending their shared career with his brother Prince William and his wife Kate. There were media reports of arguments between the two couples.
May: Meghan gives birth to a son, Archie. The couple invited a small group of media to a photo call, prompting an outcry from sections of the press that had been highly critical of the couple.
October: Meghan says she was sued by a Sunday newspaper for printing parts of a letter she wrote to her estranged father. Harry announces that he is collecting other documents on the allegations of phone theft.
In a TV documentary, Harry reveals a rift with his brother William. He accused the press of bullying, comparing it to their treatment of his mother, Princess Diana, before her death in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Meghan says life has been difficult as a new mother and she’s under a lot of scrutiny.
2020
January: The couple announced their decision to step down from royal duties and become financially independent. They agreed to give up their “Royal Highness” titles and in March they left for California.
2021
February: Harry, who served in the armed forces for ten years, won an apology and damages from the Mail on Sunday over an article that claimed he had turned his back on the military.
A High Court judge in London ruled the same paper breached Meghan’s privacy by publishing her letters.
Buckingham Palace said the couple’s separation as working members of the royal family was permanent and they would lose their royal privileges.
April: Harry returns to England for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip, Elizabeth’s husband. Pregnant Meghan is advised not to travel.
May: Harry told the US chat show host Oprah Winfrey in an interview how he turned to drink and drugs to reduce the overwhelming grief over the death of his mother, who died when her car crashed while fleeing press photographers. He said the fear the same could happen to Meghan was one of the main reasons they left royal duties.
2022
January: Harry begins legal action to challenge a government decision to deny police protection while in Britain. He then launched a defamation claim against the Mail on Sunday over an article he said had tried to keep legal action secret.
June: Harry and Meghan return to Britain for celebrations to mark Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne. We greeted them with joy and words of praise.
September: Harry and Meghan are in England when Queen Elizabeth dies. They joined William and Kate for a trip to meet the whistleblowers.
August: Harry joins singer Elton John and others to sue the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper, alleging phone tapping and other privacy violations.
The year 2023
January: Harry’s memoir “Spare” is published, revealing intimate details of his relationships with Charles and William. He later criticizes press reports of the book.
March: Harry makes a surprise appearance at London’s High Court at the start of his case against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
May: Harry attends his father’s party alone, with Meghan and her children remaining in America. He did not play any formal role in the ceremony.
