Major Controversies Surrounding Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex: A Detailed Timeline
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a prominent member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Currently fifth in line to the British throne, Harry's life has been marked by both royal duties and personal pursuits. He served in the British Army and has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, particularly focusing on mental health and supporting veterans. In recent years, he and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as senior working royals and now reside in the United States.
1994: Claims Involving Princess Diana
In May 2024, during Prince Harry's lawsuit against the Daily Mirror, The Sun, and the now-defunct News of the World regarding alleged phone hacking, the judge refused Prince Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
1995: Claims Involving Princess Diana
In May 2024, during Prince Harry's lawsuit against the Daily Mirror, The Sun, and the now-defunct News of the World regarding alleged phone hacking, the judge refused Prince Harry permission to expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother.
2001: Cannabis use and Drinking
In the summer of 2001 it was reported that Prince Harry had been smoking cannabis and drinking at his father's Highgrove House and at a local pub.
2002: Visit to Drug Rehabilitation Unit
In 2002, following reports of his cannabis use and drinking, Prince Harry, with Charles's encouragement, visited a drug rehabilitation unit to speak with drug addicts.
January 2005: Controversial comment about Chelsy Davy
In January 2005, Prince Harry responded to an inquiry about his Zimbabwean girlfriend Chelsy Davy by saying, "She's not black or anything, you know", which was later seen as a racist remark.
2005: Nazi uniform controversy
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed at a "Colonial and Native"-themed birthday party wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband. This choice sparked a backlash from the media, politicians, and religious figures, leading Clarence House to issue a public apology from Harry.
October 2007: Surfacing of Namibian trip video
In October 2007, a video from Prince Harry's trip to Namibia with his friends surfaced, showing him snorting vodka and licking a male friend's nipples, leading to controversy and media attention.
November 2008: Alleged comment to Stephen K. Amos
In November 2008, British stand-up comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that Prince Harry commented on his performance by saying, "You don't sound like a black chap", during Charles's 60th birthday celebrations, though he hoped that the remarks were made in jest.
January 2009: Release of controversial video
In January 2009, the British tabloid News of the World revealed a video made by Prince Harry three years earlier in which he used offensive terms, leading to widespread criticism. Clarence House immediately issued an apology from Harry, who stated that no malice was intended in his remarks.
August 2012: Las Vegas photographs leaked
In August 2012, Prince Harry and an unknown young woman were photographed naked in a Wynn Las Vegas hotel room, reportedly during a game of strip billiards. The pictures were leaked by TMZ on August 21, 2012, and reported worldwide by mainstream media, leading to significant media attention.
February 2014: Ashraf Islam sentenced for plotting to murder Harry
In February 2014, Ashraf Islam was sentenced to three years in prison for plotting to murder Prince Harry because he believed Harry was morally guilty due to his army service.
January 2016: Consumption of Magic Mushrooms
In his memoir, Prince Harry detailed taking magic mushrooms at a party at Courteney Cox's house in January 2016.
May 2019: Splash News apologizes for privacy breach
In May 2019, Splash News issued a formal apology to the Sussexes for sending photographers to their Cotswolds residence, which compromised their privacy. The agency also agreed to pay damages and cover legal costs.
June 2019: Royal Family's Carbon Footprint
In June 2019, the royal family faced criticism after it was revealed that they had doubled their carbon footprint from business travel. This event set the stage for later criticism of Harry and Meghan's private jet usage.
June 2019: Neo-Nazis jailed for sharing propaganda targeting Harry
In June 2019, two members of the neo-Nazi group Sonnenkrieg Division were jailed for sharing propaganda posters, including one labelling Harry as a "race traitor" with a gun pointed at his head.
July 2019: The Sun publishes stories detailing Archie's arrangements
In July 2019, The Sun published stories detailing the nannying and god-parenting arrangements for Harry and Meghan's son Archie, which later led to allegations of unlawful payments for information.
August 2019: Criticism for Private Jet Journeys
In August 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan faced criticism for reportedly taking four private jet journeys in 11 days. One of the journeys was to Elton John's home in Nice, France. The criticism aligned with earlier reactions to the royal family's carbon footprint from travel.
January 2020: Prank by Russian comedy duo
In January 2020, Prince Harry was the subject of a prank by the Russian comedy duo Vovan and Lexus, who posed as climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father. During the conversations, Harry described his decision to leave the monarchy as "not easy" and criticised Donald Trump's stance on climate change and his support of the coal industry.
January 2020: Legal warning issued to press over paparazzi photos
In January 2020, lawyers issued a legal warning to the press after paparazzi photographs of Harry and Meghan were published in the media.
January 2020: Announcement of Stepping Back from Royal Duties
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family. They intended to become financially independent and cease to represent the Queen.
January 2020: IPSO Sides with Mail on Sunday in Photo Dispute
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday in a dispute with Prince Harry regarding an Instagram photo. IPSO rejected Harry's claim that the newspaper's description of elephants being "tranquilised" and "tethered" was inaccurate.
January 2020: The Sun breaks story about Megxit plans
On 8 January 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story in the Sun about Harry and Meghan's initial plans for moving to Canada, prompting the couple to confirm their plans for stepping back from their royal duties.
March 2020: Lawsuit against Splash UK for unauthorized photos
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan took Splash UK to court after the Duchess and their son were photographed without permission during a "private family outing" while staying in Canada. The case was later settled with Splash UK agreeing to refrain from taking unauthorized photos of the family.
April 2020: Harry and Meghan cease cooperation with certain media outlets
In April 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would no longer cooperate with the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Mirror and the Express.
June 2020: Lawyers threaten to sue the Sun over story sourcing
In June 2020, it was reported that Harry's lawyers had issued a 'letter before action', threatening to sue the Sun and Dan Wootton over allegations that they had paid associates of palace officials for stories.
September 2020: Video Addressing American Voters
In September 2020, Prince Harry and his wife released a video addressing American voters, urging them to "reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity" in the 2020 United States presidential election, which was seen by some as an implicit endorsement of Joe Biden.
September 2020: Legal complaint issued over article about Invictus Games fundraiser
In September 2020, Prince Harry issued a legal complaint against The Times over an article claiming an Invictus Games fundraiser had been cancelled due to its affiliation with a competitor of Netflix, Harry's business partner.
December 2020: Lawsuit Against Associated Newspapers Limited
In December 2020, Prince Harry's legal team sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for publishing a story in the Mail on Sunday that falsely claimed his working relationship with the Royal Marines had suffered after his royal departure. The newspaper later apologized and paid "substantial damages", which were donated to the Invictus Games Foundation.
March 2021: Oprah Interview
In March 2021, Harry and Meghan sat for a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, titled "Oprah with Meghan and Harry."
March 2021: Charity Commission review of Sussex Royal
In March 2021, the Charity Commission for England and Wales initiated a review of the Sussex Royal organization in a "regulatory and compliance case" concerning its conduct under charity law during dissolution, leading to scrutiny of its operations.
March 2021: Harry and Meghan interviewed by Oprah Winfrey
On March 7, 2021, Harry and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a CBS television special. They discussed marriage, motherhood, public life pressures, and the difficulties of moving to the United States in 2020. Harry also criticized his father's parenting and strained relationships with his family.
May 2021: Guest on Armchair Expert Podcast
In May 2021, Prince Harry appeared on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman's podcast Armchair Expert, where he discussed freedom of speech and laws in the United States, stating "I've got so much I want to say about the First Amendment as I sort of understand it, but it is bonkers." These comments drew backlash from conservative Americans and Britons.
June 2021: BBC reports controversy over Lilibet's name
In June 2021, following the birth of their daughter Lilibet, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan had not sought the Queen's permission before using her personal family nickname. The couple's lawyers accused the BBC of defamation.
August 2021: Backlash for Private Jet Flight to Polo Tournament
In August 2021, Prince Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour flight on a private jet between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in an annual charity polo tournament.
October 2021: Bot Sentinel alleges coordinated negative content campaign
In October 2021, Twitter analytics service Bot Sentinel alleged that 83 accounts were responsible for about 70% of the negative content about Harry and Meghan, prompting a Twitter investigation.
November 2021: Remarks at Wired's Re:Wired Conference
In November 2021, during a panel at Wired's Re:Wired Conference, Prince Harry claimed he emailed Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, a day before the January 6 United States Capitol attack to warn of potential civil unrest but received no response. Also in November 2021, Conservative politician Johnny Mercer announced that Prince Harry supported their proposal to waive visa fees for foreign-born UK veterans and their families.
December 2021: Reports of meetings with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports surfaced regarding Prince Harry's meetings with Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, whose CBE receipt was under investigation. Harry referred to the situation as the "CBE scandal" in December 2021 and claimed he cut ties with Mahfouz in 2015 due to concerns, a claim disputed by his father's aides. Sentebale defended the meetings, denying any impropriety.
2021: Alleged Statement from Private Investigator
In 2021, a statement allegedly from Gavin Burrows, a private investigator, was used in Prince Harry's case against ANL. However, Burrows claimed that the statement was not signed by him and was "a cut and paste" from his evidence in cases against other publishers.
January 2022: Legal complaint filed against The Times over Archewell article
In January 2022, Harry and Meghan mutually filed a legal complaint against The Times for an article reporting on Archewell raising less than $50,000 in 2020.
January 2022: Harry and Meghan's images used in fake ads
In January 2022, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan's photos and videos were used in fake instant profits advertisements and bitcoin-related investment schemes.
February 2022: Libel Suit Against ANL
In February 2022, Prince Harry filed a libel suit against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he tried to hide his legal battle with the Home Office over police protection. The article also claimed he only offered to pay for protection after filing the lawsuit.
June 2022: Private Jet Use After Queen's Jubilee
In June 2022, after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Harry and Meghan boarded a private jet back to California, which was estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial".
June 2022: Meghan Describes Harry's Reaction to Supreme Court Decision
In June 2022, in an interview for Vogue, Meghan described Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights as "guttural".
July 2022: Address to the United Nations on Mandela Day
In July 2022, Prince Harry condemned the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights as a "rolling back of constitutional rights" during his address to the United Nations on Mandela Day. Justice Samuel Alito later criticised foreign figures, including Harry, for commenting on "American law".
October 2022: Legal Action Against ANL Launched
In October 2022, Prince Harry joined other public figures in launching legal action against ANL, alleging "abhorrent criminal activity" including phone hacking and accessing private information. ANL dismissed the allegations as "preposterous smears".
December 2022: YouGov Poll Ranks Harry as Disliked Royal
In December 2022, a YouGov poll found Prince Harry to be the third most disliked member of the British royal family, preceded by Prince Andrew and Meghan. This followed a decline in popularity after stepping back from royal duties and controversial media appearances.
January 2023: Harry gives series of interviews ahead of memoir release
In January 2023, Prince Harry sat down for a series of interviews including one by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, one by Tom Bradby on ITV1 titled Harry: The Interview, and another by Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, titled Prince Harry: In His Own Words. He spoke about wanting to reconcile with his father and brother and criticized the press.
January 2023: Release of Memoir "Spare" and Revelations
In January 2023, Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" was released, in which he revealed that he killed 25 Taliban members during his six missions, a claim that sparked considerable controversy and backlash from the Taliban, British politicians, and military figures. The revelations also prompted security concerns, leading to the evacuation of Pen Farthing from Kabul to avoid potential reprisal attacks.
January 2023: High Court Judge Rules on Lawsuits
In January 2023, a High Court judge ruled that Prince Harry's lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), as well as other similar lawsuits against the publisher, would go to trial in May 2023.
March 2023: Gabor Maté suggests Harry may have PTSD and other conditions
In March 2023, during a live-streamed interview, physician Gabor Maté publicly suggested that Harry could be suffering from PTSD, ADD, anxiety, and depression, based on their conversation and Maté having read Harry's autobiography Spare.
March 2023: Heritage Foundation Sends Dossier on Drug Use
In March 2023, the Heritage Foundation (HF) sent a dossier on Prince Harry's drug use to government entities, questioning whether he admitted to past drug use on his U.S. visa application.
May 2023: MGN Apologizes at Trial Start
At the beginning of trial in May 2023, MGN apologized for one instance of unlawful information gathering against Prince Harry and added that his legal challenge "warrants compensation".
June 2023: Criticism of UK Government
In June 2023, Prince Harry broke royal protocol by criticising the UK government in his witness statement to a court, arguing that both the British press and the government were "at rock bottom".
June 2023: Harry Testifies in Court Case
In June 2023, Prince Harry testified in the court case against MGN, accusing former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan of horrific personal attacks and claiming his phone had been hacked since his time at Eton. His appearance was historic, marking the first time a royal family member had been cross-examined in court since 1891.
July 2023: Ruling on Phone Hacking Claims
In July 2023, the judge ruled that part of Prince Harry's case involving allegations of illegal information gathering would go to trial but his phone-hacking claims were dismissed for being made too late.
November 2023: Case Proceeding but Evidence Ruled Inadmissible
In November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the case brought by Prince Harry and other claimants against ANL could proceed. However, unpublished material provided to the Leveson Inquiry was deemed inadmissible as proof in this particular case.
December 2023: Motion Rejected in Libel Case
In December 2023, a judge rejected Prince Harry's motion to have ANL's defense thrown out in the libel case regarding a Mail on Sunday article. The judge decided the case should proceed to trial and ordered Harry to pay Mail on Sunday £48,447 in legal costs.
December 2023: High Court Rules in Favor of Harry
In December 2023, the High Court ruled in favor of Prince Harry for 15 of the 33 sample stories used in his claims of phone hacking against MGN, awarding him £140,600 in damages. The court concluded Piers Morgan and other editors knew about and were involved in the phone hacking.
2023: Satirized in South Park
In 2023, Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family was satirized in an episode of South Park. This event reflects the ongoing scrutiny and commentary surrounding their choices.
January 2024: Neo-Nazis sentenced for calling for deaths of Harry and Archie
In January 2024, Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, two neo-Nazis, received prison sentences ranging from 8 to 11 years for terrorism, including calls for the deaths of Prince Harry and his son Archie on their podcast.
January 2024: Withdrawal of Libel Claim
In January 2024, Prince Harry withdrew his libel claim against ANL, making him liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs. This concluded the legal battle that began in February 2022.
February 2024: Settlement with MGN
In February 2024, Prince Harry settled his remaining claim with MGN. The publisher agreed to cover Harry's legal costs and pay damages reported to be in the region of £300,000.
March 2024: Named in Lawsuit Against P. Diddy
In March 2024, Prince Harry was named in a lawsuit against P. Diddy, who faced allegations of sexual trafficking. Harry was mentioned as a celebrity associate of Combs, allegedly used to attract guests to parties.
March 2024: U.S. Government Ordered to Hand Over Visa Details
In March 2024, the U.S. government was ordered to hand over Prince Harry's visa application details to a D.C. court following a freedom of information request by the Heritage Foundation.
April 2024: Initial Appeal Attempt Lost
In April 2024, Harry lost an initial attempt to appeal against the ruling regarding his security arrangements. Additionally, the judge held him liable for 90% of the Home Office's legal costs, and it was revealed he had leaked information during the proceedings.
May 2024: Rejection of Claims in Phone Hacking Lawsuit
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused Prince Harry permission to include claims against Rupert Murdoch, expand his case's scope back to 1994 and 1995 to cover allegations involving his mother or to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan in his phone hacking lawsuit.
September 2024: Visa Case Closed
In September 2024, the Heritage Foundation's case regarding Prince Harry's visa was closed due to sealed orders and a memorandum opinion. The HF then requested to "vacate" the ruling.
October 2024: Settlement or Trial Decision
In October 2024, the judge announced that the two sides in Prince Harry's phone hacking lawsuit should either settle or go to trial in January 2025. The judge also refused to let Harry's team include allegations of bugs being placed in rooms and cars, and trackers on vehicles due to lack of specifics.
January 2025: Criticism for Food Bank Appearance
In January 2025, Justine Bateman criticized Prince Harry and Meghan, deeming their behavior "repulsive" for appearing at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires. Bateman accused them of seeking a "photo op" and called them "disaster tourists".
January 2025: Settlement in Phone Hacking Case
In January 2025, Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers (NGN) settled the phone hacking case, with NGN paying more than £10 million in payouts and legal fees. NGN issued a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, and admitted to "unlawful activity" by private investigators but not by journalists.
February 2025: Trump Rules Out Deportation
In February 2025, new U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would not deport Prince Harry from the USA.
March 2025: Release of Redacted Court Documents
In March 2025, Judge Carl Nichols ordered the release of redacted versions of court documents related to Prince Harry's visa application by March 18. Heavily redacted documents were released, but his immigration status and whether he disclosed his drug use on the application remained undisclosed.
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale
In March 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale following a dispute between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka, who reported the charity to the Charity Commission due to concerns about governance.
May 2025: Harry reflects on security loss and family estrangement in BBC interview
In May 2025, Harry was interviewed by Nada Tawfik of the BBC, during which he reflected on his loss of taxpayer-funded security and his ongoing estrangement from his family. Stephen Bates critiqued his "megaphone diplomacy" in The Guardian.
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