THE publication of the photographs of a naked Prince Harry is not in the public interest, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has insisted in the first ministerial intervention about the controversy.
It became clear at the weekend that Rupert Murdoch himself had ordered The Sun to print the front-page picture of the naked prince after the UK press had collectively refused to do so. The News Corporation chief tweeted: "Needed to demonstrate no such thing as a free press in UK. Internet makes mockery of these issues. First amendment please."
However, when asked about the pictures, Mr Hunt – who recently faced down calls for his resignation after allegations that he was championing the Murdoch bid for BskyB, allegations he strongly denied – said: "Personally, I cannot see what the public interest was in publishing those.
"But we have a free press and I don't think it is right for politicians to tell newspaper editors what they can and cannot publish. That must be a matter for the newspaper editors."
More than 850 complaints have been made to the Press Complaints Commission about the naked photographs of the 27-year-old prince cavorting in the nude with an unnamed woman in a Las Vegas hotel after they were published last Friday.
Most have been about invasion of privacy. They will be investigated in due course.
The Culture Secretary added: "I just hope that people won't remember this but they will remember the amazing good work that Prince Harry has done."
Mr Hunt described the News Corp chief as the "ultimate Marmite proprietor; you either love him or hate him" and said people could agree or disagree with the decision to publish the photographs of the naked prince.
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