By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters – An article in a newspaper about Prince Harry’s battle with Britain over security arrangements implied that he had lied, and attempted to influence public opinion. This was according to lawyers for Queen Elizabeth’s great grandson.

Harry has sued Associated Newspapers (publisher of Mail on Sunday) for libel regarding an article published in February. He claimed that he attempted to keep confidential details about his legal fight to reinstate police protection and that his aides then tried positive to make it seem better.

Associated Newspapers denied that the article was libellous.

This latest spat between Harry, Meghan, and the newspaper group reflects their hatred of British tabloids in general as well as its criticisms of royal couples.

The purpose of Thursday’s hearing in London at the High Court was to establish what the reader might conclude as the meaning of the Mail story.

Justin Rushbrooke was Harry’s attorney. The article contained an “unremittingly negativ” statement that implied that Harry had lied. In it, he stated that he has always been prepared to pay for protection police in Britain and had tried to trick the public by authorizing his spin doctors to make false statements.

Rushbrooke claimed Harry believed he had kept the legal dispute with the government under wraps and that the public should pay him for protection.

Andrew Caldecott, the paper’s attorney said that it would take a quantum leap to draw these conclusions and that the article implied Harry’s PR team had been involved in creating material confusing the public.

He claimed that the article only reflected Harry’s initial desire to have a confidential order for his ongoing fight against the government. This was an argument he later relaxed.

Matthew Nicklin the judge said he will give his verdict on this issue later.

Harry, age 37, and Meghan (40), the Duchess and Duke of Sussex made their first public appearance in Britain together after they ended royal duties two year ago. They were present at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee service thanksgiving, where there was cheering and some booing.

Harry and the couple moved to America partly as Harry felt the media was damaging his mental health. They now reside in California with their children Archie and Lilibet. Lilibet was named for her great-grandmother, the queen.

After the Mail printed excerpts from a letter Meghan wrote in 2018 to her father, Meghan filed a High Court case against them.