Reporter apologises to Prince Harry for 'chasing' mum Diana in Netflix's Murdoch doc

An ex-journalist for the now defunct News of the World newspaper has issued an apology to Prince Harry for "chasing" his mother Princess Diana "around the world" prior to her tragic death in 1997.

Speaking in a new Netflix documentary series, Paul McMullan said, "I spent the last month of Diana's life just chasing her around the world. I can see why Harry hates us. Sorry, Harry."

There was then a shot of a News of the World front page featuring a story about Prince Harry partying.

Former News of the World deputy features editor and reporter McMullan was speaking on Dynasty: The Murdochs, which delves into the media mogul's empire and his children's succession battle for the company.

McMullan opened up about working for the now-closed newspaper owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and discussed his knowledge of the unethical and illegal practices some of the paper's staff employed to obtain exclusive stories.

The journalist and pub owner claimed in the documentary that he landed his staff job "for stealing" photos that were subsequently published in the paper.

Another former News of the World reporter, Graham Johnson, also spoke in the documentary, and said: "I had a contact who'd give me stories on Prince Charles, who was having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. She's the Queen now. So, I knew her inside movements."

Johnson said, "I went to work for the News of the World because I liked its reputation." He claimed: "It was like the Death Star. The dark heart of the evil empire and that emanated from the characters who ran it."

He later said: "One thing which is interesting about Rupert Murdoch and his corporate culture is a sense that anything can be achieved by a force of will, and this is a really important characteristic of the people who worked for him."

Of the phone-hacking scandal at the Murdoch organisation, he also claimed: "scores of people were involved. Journalists and private detectives trading unlawful information."

He added: "They were spending millions of pounds a year on gathering it, and it went on all over the world. It was called the 'Dark Arts'."

Both James and Rupert Murdoch have previously denied knowledge about what occurred at the News of the World newspaper.

During the 2011 parliamentary committee inquiry, Rupert said: "I didn't know of it, I'm sorry. Allow me to say something? This is not an excuse. Maybe it is an explanation of my laxity. The News of the World is less than 1 percent of our company. I employ 53,000 people around the world who are proud and great and ethical and distinguished people-professionals in their line. Perhaps I am spread watching and appointing people whom I trust to run those divisions."

He also added at one point: "I'd just like to say one thing, this is the most humble day of my life."

While James said: "[I] would like to say as well just how sorry I am, and how sorry we are, to particularly the victims of illegal voicemail interceptions and to their families. It is a matter of great regret to me, my father and everyone at News Corporation. These actions do not live up to the standards that our company aspires to everywhere around the world, and it is our determination to put things right, to make sure that these things do not happen again and to be the company that I know we have always aspired to be."

Along with the phone-hacking scandal and the subsequent Leveson Inquiry, Dynasty: The Murdochs delves into the various power struggles between the Australian businessman's four eldest children, Elisabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch and Prudence MacLeod.

After many battles over the years and attempts to prove themselves to their father, the eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, was named his father's successor.

This came after the Murdochs reached a $3.3billion settlement, which saw Lachlan handed control of News Corp and Fox Corp until at least 2050.

James, Elisabeth and Prudence were given $1.1billion each, while the tycoon's two youngest children Grace and Chloe from his marriage to Wendi Deng were named as beneficiaries of the new family trust created after the settlement.

A title card at the end of the series read: "Rupert Murdoch and his children declined or did not respond to requests to be interviewed for this series.

"When asked for comment, a representative for James, Prudence and Elisabeth provided the following statement: 'Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch are happy to have reached an agreement to settle the litigation initiated by their father, Rupert Murdoch, and brother Lachlan, in 2023. Prudence, Elisabeth and James are pleased that the matter is now behind them'."

Reach Screen Time has approached Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and Prudence MacLeod for comment on this story, but was unable to contact James Murdoch.

A representative for Elisabeth Murdoch declined to comment.

Dynasty: The Murdochs is streaming on Netflix now