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. As the younger son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, he holds the fifth position in the line of succession to the British throne. He served in the British Army, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan. In recent years, he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior members of the royal family, relocating to the United States. They have since established the Archewell Foundation, focusing on charitable endeavors and media production. Harry has been vocal about mental health awareness and veterans' affairs, becoming a notable public figure beyond his royal lineage.
1994: Claims against Rupert Murdoch and expansion of case's scope
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused 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 add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan. The case aimed to expand claims back to 1994 and 1995
1995: Claims against Rupert Murdoch and expansion of case's scope
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused 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 add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan. The case aimed to expand claims back to 1994 and 1995.
2001: Harry's claims relate to articles published between 2001 and 2013
In January 2026, the trial between Prince Harry, other claimants, and ANL began, with proceedings expected to last nine weeks. Prince Harry's claims relate to 14 articles published between 2001 and 2013, which his lawyer argued could not have been lawfully sourced.
January 2005: Controversial comment about Chelsy Davy
In January 2005, Prince Harry made a controversial comment about his Zimbabwean girlfriend Chelsy Davy, stating "She's not black or anything, you know."
2005: Nazi Uniform Controversy
In early 2005, Prince Harry was photographed wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform with a swastika armband at a "Colonial and Native"-themed birthday party, sparking widespread backlash. Clarence House issued a public apology, and Harry later stated that it was a stupid thing to do and that he had learned his lesson.
October 2007: Video surfaces from trip to Namibia
In October 2007, a video from Prince Harry's trip to Namibia surfaced, showing him snorting vodka and licking a male friend's nipples.
November 2008: Stephen K. Amos alleges Harry made a racist comment
In November 2008, British comedian Stephen K. Amos alleged that after performing at Prince Charles's 60th birthday, Prince Harry commented on his performance by saying, "You don't sound like a black chap."
January 2009: News of the World Releases Video with Offensive Remarks
In January 2009, the News of the World released a video made by Prince Harry three years earlier where he used offensive terms, referring to a Pakistani officer cadet as "our little Paki friend" and calling a soldier in camouflage a "raghead." Clarence House issued an apology, and Harry was reportedly instructed to attend a diversity course.
2011: Harry has close relationship with Charlotte Griffiths
During the ANL trial in January 2026, it was revealed that between 2011 and 2012 Harry himself had a close relationship with Charlotte Griffiths, a Mail on Sunday reporter, whom he had exchanges with via Facebook and phones.
August 2012: Las Vegas Naked Photos Leak
In August 2012, Prince Harry was photographed naked with a woman in a Wynn Las Vegas hotel room during a game of strip billiards. The photos were leaked by TMZ on August 21, 2012, and were widely reported. British media were initially reluctant to publish them, but The Sun eventually did so on August 24, 2012.
2012: Harry has close relationship with Charlotte Griffiths
During the ANL trial in January 2026, it was revealed that between 2011 and 2012 Harry himself had a close relationship with Charlotte Griffiths, a Mail on Sunday reporter, whom he had exchanges with via Facebook and phones.
October 2013: Jo Brand's joke on Have I Got News for You
In October 2013, Jo Brand made a joke on Have I Got News for You about Prince George's christening, which referenced Prince Harry. Kensington Palace contacted the BBC to point out a factual error in the joke, but the BBC only apologized for the error and not the comment itself.
2013: Harry's claims relate to articles published between 2001 and 2013
In January 2026, the trial between Prince Harry, other claimants, and ANL began, with proceedings expected to last nine weeks. Prince Harry's claims relate to 14 articles published between 2001 and 2013, which his lawyer argued could not have been lawfully sourced.
January 2016: Harry recounts taking magic mushrooms at Courteney Cox's house
In January 2016, Prince Harry recounted taking magic mushrooms at a party at Courteney Cox's house.
2016: Claims against Rupert Murdoch and expansion of case's scope
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused 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 add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan. The case aimed to add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan.
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, putting their privacy at risk. The agency also agreed to pay damages and legal costs.
June 2019: Criticism about Royal Family Carbon Footprint
In June 2019, the royal family faced criticism after it was revealed that they had doubled their carbon footprint from business travel.
July 2019: The Sun publishes stories regarding Archie's nannying and god-parenting arrangements
In July 2019, The Sun published stories that detailed the nannying and god-parenting arrangements for Harry and Meghan's son Archie, leading to allegations that payments were made to associates of palace officials to secure these stories.
August 2019: Criticism for Private Jet Journeys
In August 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan were criticized for taking four private jet journeys in 11 days, including one to Elton John's home in Nice, France, raising concerns about their environmental impact.
October 2019: Harry sues Daily Mirror, The Sun and News of the World
In October 2019, Prince Harry sued the Daily Mirror, The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World in relation to alleged phone-hacking. Harry sought damages in excess of £200,000 and alleged a previous agreement with News Group Newspapers (NGN) was not honored.
January 2020: Pranked by Russian Comedians
In January 2020, Prince Harry was pranked by Russian comedians Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated Greta Thunberg and her father during phone calls. He criticized Donald Trump's climate change stance during the conversations.
January 2020: Legal warning issued to the press
In January 2020, lawyers issued a legal warning to the press after paparazzi photographs of Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie were published in the media.
January 2020: IPSO Sided with Mail on Sunday
In January 2020, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) sided with the Mail on Sunday over a dispute with Prince Harry regarding an Instagram photo involving elephants that the newspaper claimed were "tranquilised" and "tethered", rejecting Harry's claim that the description was inaccurate.
January 2020: The Sun publishes story on Megxit
On January 8, 2020, Dan Wootton broke the story in The Sun about Megxit and Harry and Meghan's initial plans for moving to Canada, which prompted the couple to issue an announcement within hours, confirming their plans for stepping back from their royal duties.
April 2020: Announcement of non-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 and Dan Wootton
In June 2020, Prince Harry's lawyers issued a 'letter before action', threatening to sue The Sun and Dan Wootton over allegations of payments to palace officials for stories. It was alleged that The Sun had made two payments amounting to £4,000 to the partner of a royal official in relation to stories published in June and July 2019.
September 2020: Video Urging Voters to Reject Hate Speech
In September 2020, Prince Harry and his wife released a video urging American voters to reject hate speech and misinformation in the 2020 United States presidential election, which was interpreted as an implicit endorsement of Joe Biden.
September 2020: Legal complaint against The Times
In September 2020, Prince Harry issued a legal complaint against The Times for publishing an article claiming an Invictus Games fundraiser had been cancelled due to its affiliation with a competitor of Netflix, Harry's business partner.
March 2021: Charity Commission Review of Sussex Royal
In March 2021, it was reported that the Charity Commission for England and Wales was conducting a review of the Sussex Royal organization in a "regulatory and compliance case" regarding its conduct under charity law during dissolution.
March 2021: Oprah Winfrey Interview
On March 7, 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in a television special for CBS. They discussed marriage, motherhood, the pressures of public life, their move to the US in 2020, and their plans for the future. Harry also criticized his father's parenting and his relationship with his brother, leading to a wide and polarized reaction.
May 2021: Armchair Expert Podcast Controversy
In May 2021, Prince Harry appeared on the Armchair Expert podcast and commented on the First Amendment in the US, stating it was "bonkers." His comments drew criticism from various American public figures.
June 2021: Dispute over Lilibet's name
In June 2021, after the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet, the BBC reported that the couple had not sought permission from the Queen to use her personal family nickname. Lawyers for the couple accused the BBC of defamation, claiming Harry had spoken to the Queen before announcing the name.
August 2021: Private Jet Flight to Aspen
In August 2021, Prince Harry received backlash for taking a two-hour private jet flight between California and Aspen, Colorado, to participate in a charity polo tournament.
December 2021: Reports emerge about meetings with Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz
In December 2021, reports emerged about Prince Harry's meetings with Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, leading to an investigation into Mahfouz's CBE. Harry referred to it as the "CBE scandal".
2021: Gavin Burrows statement in ANL case
In October 2022, the Duke of Sussex joined other public figures in launching a legal action against ANL for alleged "abhorrent criminal activity" including phone hacking and obtaining sensitive information, where Gavin Burrows gave a 2021 statement.
January 2022: Legal complaint against The Times
In January 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan jointly filed a legal complaint against The Times for an article reporting on Archewell raising less than $50,000 in 2020.
January 2022: Harry's legal fight over police protection begins
In January 2022, it was reported that Harry had been in a legal fight since September 2021 over the Home Office's refusal to allow him to pay for police protection. He had made the offer to pay during the Sandringham Summit and "self-evidently believed" that it would be passed on to the government.
February 2022: Filed Libel Suit Against ANL
In February 2022, Prince Harry filed a libel suit in the High Court against ANL for a Mail on Sunday article alleging he was trying to keep his legal battle with the Home Office secret.
June 2022: Reaction to Supreme Court Decision
In June 2022, Meghan described Prince Harry's reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights as "guttural" in an interview with Vogue.
June 2022: Private Jet Flight After Queen's Jubilee
In June 2022, after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince Harry and Meghan boarded a private jet to California, estimated to have emitted "ten times more carbon than flying commercial."
July 2022: Criticism of Supreme Court Ruling at UN
In July 2022, Prince Harry criticized the Supreme Court's abortion ruling as a "rolling back of constitutional rights" during an address to the United Nations on Mandela Day.
August 2022: Harry files lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police
In August 2022, Harry filed a lawsuit against the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, challenging the decision by RAVEC from January 2022 which stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves.
October 2022: Legal action against ANL launched
In October 2022, the Duke of Sussex joined other public figures in launching a legal action against ANL for alleged "abhorrent criminal activity" including phone hacking and obtaining sensitive information.
December 2022: Harry Ranked Among Most Disliked Royals
In December 2022, Prince Harry was ranked as the third most disliked member of the British royal family by YouGov, following Prince Andrew and Meghan, after his popularity fell due to controversial interviews, docuseries, and his memoir.
2022: Accusations of Abuse by African Parks Surface
In 2022, accusations of abuse by the charity African Parks surfaced publicly, with reports claiming that rangers managed by the organization had been torturing, beating, raping, and forcibly displacing members of the indigenous Baka community.
January 2023: Series of interviews ahead of memoir release
In January 2023, Prince Harry sat down for a series of interviews ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, including interviews by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Tom Bradby on ITV1, Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, and Michael Strahan on Good Morning America. During these interviews, he discussed his family relationships and alleged media manipulation.
January 2023: High Court judge rules that Harry's lawsuit against MGN will go to trial
In January 2023, a High Court judge ruled that 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: Heritage Foundation's Dossier on Drug Use
In March 2023, the Heritage Foundation sent a dossier on Prince Harry's past drug use to government entities, questioning whether he disclosed it on his U.S. visa application.
May 2023: Trial against Mirror Group Newspapers begins
At the beginning of the trial in May 2023, Mirror Group Newspapers (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 criticized the UK government in a witness statement submitted to a court, accusing the press of being too close to the government.
June 2023: Harry testifies in court case against Daily Mirror
In June 2023, Prince Harry testified in the court case against the Daily Mirror, accusing former editor Piers Morgan of personal attacks and claiming his phone had been hacked since his time at Eton. This marked the first time a royal family member was cross-examined in court since 1891.
July 2023: Ruling in Harry's case against News Group Newspapers
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.
December 2023: Rejection of Motion and Legal Costs
In December 2023, Prince Harry's motion to dismiss the publisher's defense in the libel suit was rejected, and he was ordered to pay Mail on Sunday £48,447 in legal costs.
2023: Satirized in South Park
In 2023, Prince Harry and Meghan's exit from the royal family was satirized in an episode of South Park.
January 2024: Neo-Nazis sentenced for calling for the deaths of Harry and Archie
In January 2024, Christopher Gibbons and Tyrone Patten-Walsh, two neo-Nazis, were given prison sentences between 8 and 11 years for terrorism, which included calling 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 and became liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs.
March 2024: Named in lawsuit against P. Diddy
In March 2024, Prince Harry was mentioned in a lawsuit against P. Diddy related to sexual trafficking allegations, cited as a celebrity associate used to attract guests to parties.
March 2024: Order to Provide Visa Application Materials
In March 2024, the U.S. government was ordered to provide Prince Harry's visa-application materials to a D.C. court after an unsuccessful freedom‑of‑information request.
May 2024: Restriction of claims against Rupert Murdoch and expansion of case's scope
In May 2024, Mr Justice Fancourt refused 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 add new allegations from 2016 involving his then-girlfriend Meghan.
May 2024: Permission to challenge High Court's decision
In May 2024, Prince Harry was given permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision regarding his security arrangements.
September 2024: Visa Case Closed with Sealed Orders
In September 2024, the case regarding Prince Harry's visa application was closed after sealed orders and a memorandum opinion were filed. The Heritage Foundation requested the ruling be vacated and confidential correspondence be released.
October 2024: The two sides urged to settle or go to trial
In October 2024, the judge announced that the two sides should either settle or go to trial in January 2025 and refused to let Harry's team include allegations that bugs were placed in rooms and cars, and trackers placed on vehicles as "no particulars whatsoever of such allegations" were provided.
2024: Further Accusations of Abuse by African Parks Surface
In 2024, further accusations of abuse by the charity African Parks surfaced publicly, with reports claiming that rangers managed by the organization had been torturing, beating, raping, and forcibly displacing members of the indigenous Baka community.
January 2025: Appearance at Food Bank Draws Mixed Reactions
In January 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan's appearance at a food bank during the Southern California wildfires in the Pacific Palisades received mixed reactions, labeled by some as "disaster tourism."
February 2025: Trump Rules Out Deportation
In February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would not deport Prince Harry, telling the New York Post, "I'll leave him alone."
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. Heavily redacted documents were published, but the visa application itself and his immigration status remained withheld.
March 2025: Resignation from Sentebale
In March 2025, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned as patrons of Sentebale following a dispute between trustees and the board chair, Sophie Chandauka, who reported the charity to the Charity Commission, alleging poor governance and misconduct.
May 2025: Interview with BBC and reflection on security loss
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, writing for The Guardian, criticized Harry's approach.
May 2025: Rejection of appeal by three senior judges
In May 2025, Harry's appeal was rejected by three senior judges and he was likely to be held liable for the UK government's legal fees.
August 2025: Charity Commission Findings
In August 2025, the Charity Commission announced findings regarding Sentebale, stating it found no evidence of widespread bullying or overreach by Sophie Chandauka or Prince Harry but acknowledged a strong perception of ill-treatment, criticized all sides for allowing the conflict to become public, and cited poor internal governance as impactful to the charity's reputation.
December 2025: Appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert
In December 2025, Harry appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert as part of a sketch in which he made mocking comments seen as critical of U.S. President Donald Trump and the related controversy over the decision to cancel the show.
January 2026: ANL Trial Start
In January 2026, the trial between Prince Harry, other claimants, and ANL began, with proceedings expected to last nine weeks. Ahead of the trial, ANL accused the claimants' legal team of dishonesty, fraud, and conspiracy.
February 2026: Comments on Gaza Aid Corridors
In February 2026, Prince Harry stated in an interview with Channel 4 that aid corridors had been shut to Gaza after the Gaza war, prompting criticism from Israel's deputy minister of foreign affairs.
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