Netizens Mock Prince Harry For Claiming He Slayed Dragons After Winning Phone Hacking Case

Prince Harry had a major victory in one of his legal cases, but netizens weren't impressed.

On Friday, presiding judge Justice Fancourt ruled that 15 of the 33 articles examined from Mirror Group Newspapers were the "product of phone hacking of his mobile phone" or "product of other unlawful information-gathering." The publication was ordered to pay Prince Harry $180,000.

Following the win, Prince Harry released a statement expressing how pleased he was with the ruling.

"Today's ruling is vindicating and affirming," he said in a statement obtained by People. "I've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned, but in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues."

However, several netizens reacted negatively to his statement, with many underestimating what ABC News Foreign correspondent Maggie Rulli said about the case being Prince Harry's "most significant legal win" so far. Prince Harry's critics said the ruling was not up to par with Prince William's major legal victory.

 "He didn't slay dragons! He just piggybacked William's court case in criminal court! William slayed and had a newspaper END for good, put people in jail and had laws changed. Harry's small case in civil court is nothing compared. What a joke Harry is! Trying to inflate this lol," one commented.

"Prince William won over ONE MILLION. No legal fees. People went to jail. He put a paper out of business. Prince Harry. He was offered a settlement of 200K pounds, he won 140k pounds. I'd call that a loss," another added.

"Prince William settled for $1 million and donated it all to charity. Hank gets 140k pounds, a good chunk of which will go to attorney fees & paying the fines in his other court case. And this is a win...NOPE," a third person opined.

"Of course, he releases such a grandiose statement. William won $1 million, donated it, had News of the World shut down, [and] then went about business. Harry does it so he can call himself a 'dragon slayer.' Still hasn't grown up," a fourth user wrote with laughing emojis.

Meanwhile, some netizens defended Prince Harry. Others also congratulated him.

"Critical thinkers know that for Harry, this was about accountability and justice -- not $," one commented. Another added, "Leaders make wise and tough choices. Harry did just that. He stood up and fought like a Gallant, well-trained Officer."

"Congratulations, Harry, a real modern-day Prince' slaying dragons' in defense of his realm. Love him," a third supporter tweeted.

"Prince Harry just won his case against the Newspaper. Congratulations Harry," Baron Chymaker said.

Prince William received a "very large sum of money" in a 2020 settlement from Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN), according to Prince Harry's court documents. Former News of the World royals reporter Clive Goodman and a private investigator he hired, Glenn Mulcaire, were both prosecuted and sentenced to jail for their involvement in intercepting voicemails, The Associated Press reported. 

News of the World closed in 2011 after it was accused of intercepting voicemails. The phone hacking scandal allegedly went beyond the royal family and also targeted politicians, celebrities and relatives of deceased British soldiers and bombing victims.

Press Gazette noted in a 2021 article that phone hacking cases and related expenses in 2020, the same year it reportedly paid Prince William, cost $99 million.