Prince Harry accuses tabloids of casting him as 'thicko'

Prince Harry has accused the tabloid property of casting him successful the relation of a "thicko" and a "cheat", successful his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

In a witnesser connection released arsenic helium gave grounds successful court, Harry said arsenic a teen helium had played up to headlines, putting him successful a "downward spiral".

Harry besides said his voicemails had been hacked, leaving him feeling helium "couldn't spot anybody".

He claims journalists unlawfully gathered information, which MGN denies.

By appearing successful the witnesser stand, Harry has go the archetypal elder royal to springiness grounds successful a tribunal of instrumentality since Edward VII successful 1891.

In his written statement issued arsenic helium appeared astatine London's High Court, Prince Harry accused the tabloids of casting members of the Royal Family into roles and creating an "alternative and distorted mentation of me".

"They past commencement to borderline you towards playing the relation oregon roles that suit them champion and which sells arsenic galore newspapers arsenic possible, particularly if you are the 'spare' to the 'heir'", helium said.

"You're past either the 'playboy prince', the 'failure', the 'drop out' or, successful my case, the 'thicko', the 'cheat', the 'underage drinker', the 'irresponsible cause taker'..."

His connection is captious of the broader tabloid press, portion determination are besides circumstantial claims levelled against the steadfast of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People.

In the statement, helium also:

Harry is 1 of 4 radical bringing claims against the publisher, alongside Coronation Street actors Michael Turner - known professionally arsenic Michael Le Vell - and Nikki Sanderson, arsenic good arsenic Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.

The claimants allege unlawful methods were utilized to get accusation for stories and accidental elder executives indispensable person known astir it and failed to halt it, which MGN denies.