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16 January 2020 / David Burrows
Issue: 7870 / Categories: Features , Media , Privacy
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Prince Harry & Meghan: bowing out?

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David Burrows on privacy, press freedom & the ‘Sussexes’

The latest in the story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markel (the ‘Sussexes’) and their aim of carving out new roles as hybrid royals was, I suspect (has it actually been confirmed?) part prompted by their tribulations of dealing with the British media. Involvement with the press (I think mostly of court proceedings) comes in a variety of forms. It affects ‘celebrities’ disproportionately (though as Naomi Campbell’s case (see below) shows, it may be said they asked for it); but it can affect us all: parents and children in care proceedings; anyone investigated by the police or involved in interesting (to the press) open court proceedings; and even some private proceedings cases.

English law on press freedom and privacy are derived from the common law, and developed alongside the European Convention on Human Rights 1950, mostly Arts 8 (respect for private and family life, ie privacy) and 10 (freedom of expression, ie publicity). To act for a ‘celebrity’ (‘figures of

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NEWS
Restrictions on workplace non-disclosure agreements could make settlements slower, more complex and more expensive when reforms expected in 2027 take effect
Private prosecutors face closer scrutiny under Crown Prosecution Service guidance designed to strengthen accountability and consistency when intervention is requested
Foreign states cannot necessarily claim immunity for cyber operations launched abroad against computers in Britain, following a divided Supreme Court ruling
Defendants who make unsupported complaints about their lawyers risk losing legal aid while confiscation proceedings continue without representation
Lawyers advising Russian clients face different sanctions restrictions across the UK, EU and US, despite their shared objective of increasing pressure on Russia
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