A Private Investigator Apologized to Prince Harry for Having “Robbed” Him of Teen Years
It was all part of a “ruthless” media culture surrounding the royals in the 2000s, said the investigator.
While the first episode of The Princes and The Press—a two-part BBC documentary that started airing last week—looked at the unsurprisingly fraught relationship between the royal family and the tabloid media machine, it also featured some revelations. Though it’s widely recognized that the rabid treatment of the royal family by the tabloid press is over-the-top and inappropriate (Prince Harry has even previously blamed the media’s “culture of exploitation” for the death of his mother, Princess Diana), the new documentary goes into some never-before-heard details—and saw at least one former investigator apologize to Prince Harry for their behavior.
Private investigator Gavin Burrows, who worked with publications throughout the 2000s, took a moment in the documentary to apologize to Harry for the media’s “ruthless” behavior toward him, according to People. “I was basically part of a group of people who robbed him of his normal teenage years,” Burrows said. Burrows admitted that he hacked into the private communications of Chelsy Davy, the young woman Prince Harry dated on and off for six years, up until 2011. “There was a lot of voicemail hacking going on, there was a lot of surveillance work on her phones, on her comms. Chelsy would brag to her friends when she was going to see him,” he said.
Burrows added that he even dug into Davy's medical records, looking for information on sexually transmitted infections or possible pregnancies. The former investigator said he was “very sorry” for how he acted, and blamed it partially on greed and his own past drug use. “I was living in a fake state of grandeur,” he said.
The first episode of the documentary discussed the enormous pressure faced by women who dated Prince Harry prior to his marriage to Meghan Markle (who has experienced her own horrific press treatment). "Harry's previous relationships with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, a part of why neither of those went all the way was because neither of them wanted to endure that level of media scrutiny,” said Roya Nikkhah, editor of The Sunday Times, appearing in the documentary. “A lot of his friends were getting married and having families, and he was very concerned that that might elude him because he might not be able to find someone who could handle that."
While it’s important that members of the press who contributed to the awful treatment of the royals are taking accountability, the documentary itself isn’t exactly going over well within the Firm. Because the BBC, who produced and broadcast The Princes and the Press, refused to allow the royal family to view it before air, there was a rumored “boycott” of the station within the Palace. While the royals issued a standard statement about the film, the documentary is said to be placing even more strain on the fractured relationship between the family and the BBC, which was already fraught after Prince William’s outspoken disappointment with the network for its irresponsible handling of the 1995 Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana.
Part II of the documentary airs November 29.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. We're known for our award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
Sabrina Carpenter Dressed Up as Sandy From 'Grease,' Tinkerbell and a Playboy Bunny All in the Same Concert
An ambitious girlie.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
It's Time to Get Festive: Here's Every New Christmas Movie and Holiday Special Coming to Netflix This Year
Expect the titles streaming soon to be steamier than your hot cocoa.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Keke Palmer Says “Walking Away Is the Only Way” After Opening up About “Unhealthy” Relationship
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through," the star wrote in her new book.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William's Country Home Is Haunted
"No old hall would be complete without a ghost, would it?"
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana's Former Bodyguard Shares What Really Happened When the Royal Confronted Camilla About Prince Charles Affair
"And Camilla sort of said something, to which still to this day I have never really understood," the protection officer said.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Reveals Why Princess Diana Would Think He'd Gone “Mad” in New Documentary
He’s got some big ideas.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Mike Tindall Says "Pretending to Punch" Prince Harry Got Him into a Ton of Trouble
"Loads of trolls went in on Mike, especially about him wanting to hit a young, defenseless Harry."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Reportedly Wears Her Eternity Ring to "Disperse" Negative Relationship Rumors
Princess Diana's engagement ring is nowhere to be seen.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why a Phone Call Warning of an Impending "Apocalypse" on Halloween 2016 Changed Everything for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
"Well, we said, staring anxiously at our phones, it was going to happen eventually."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Will Reportedly Snub Royal Family's Christmas if This Family Member Is Invited
The Prince of Wales is apparently "nervous" they might show up this year.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Doesn’t Want His Kids to Exist “In Their Own Little Worlds” When it Comes to Privilege
The royal said it’s “important” his children know about others’ struggles.
By Kristin Contino Published