The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

The Sun: "There is a clear public interest in publishing the Harry pictures"

Quote of the day.

By New Statesman Published 24 August 2012 8:40

The Sun. Photograph: Getty Images

In the end, the Sun was the first to blink and publish the naked Prince Harry photos in all their glorious detail. Their justification?

"There is a clear public interest in publishing the Harry pictures, in order for the debate around them to be fully informed... The photos have potential implications for the prince's image representing Britain around the world. There are questions over his security during the Las Vegas holiday. Questions as to whether his position in the Army might be affected. Further, we believe Harry has compromised his own privacy."

Nothing to do with the global interest in them already online and a potential bounce in sales, of course.

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10 comments

Tue, 2012-08-28 13:12 — John Cheese (not verified)

Brits's are kings of the tabloid so it would be strange if they didn't...

Mon, 2012-08-27 13:09 — jasonblacko1

This rich playboy may one day be offered the job of King and Head of the Church of England. If he were to renounce this possibility then I agree his behaviour would be of no interest to anybody. However, he hasn't done this.

So, one day we might be faced with a situation were the head of a church is a known gambler and spends his time getting naked with loose women. Therefore, despite not being religious myself I am able to see that such details of Harry's behaviour are indeed in the public interest.

Murdoch, for all his faults, was right to publish.

Sun, 2012-09-02 13:05 — Bernadette Matthews (not verified)

Can we have a picture of you naked for the Sun ?

(At least I'm asking)

As for the rest, so much pontificating, so much speechifying. There is no justification for the publication of these pictures.

Fri, 2012-08-24 16:30 — Lucidus (not verified)

I think they meant to say, "There is a clear pubic interest in publishing the Harry pictures."

Fri, 2012-08-24 14:39 — Worldismad (not verified)

I just want to know exactly how much leave does he get? As far as his behaviour is concerned, he is just following the family tradition. Why do people look up to any of them when they would not like their own sons and daughters behaving in the same way?

Fri, 2012-08-24 11:38 — Hikaru22

Murdoch is a republican. He is no friend to the Royal Family. That is why he has published the photographs - because he thinks that doing so might inflict some damage upon them. Murdoch does not believe in the hereditary principle - in inherited wealth or inherited position - until, that is, it comes to his own money, his own family and his own business.

The 'freedon of speech' justification for publishing the photographs - which The Sun has also been trailing this morning - is utterly specious. There is no 'freedom of speech' in the press. The newspapers are the dogs of their proprietors. The Sun is Murdoch's dog, and it barks to his tune. There is no 'freedom of speech' for its targets, nor for its victims.

Silly Prince Harry for playing straight into the hands of people like this, of course. But I think that both he - and we - will get over it.