Independent publication Byline Timeshas been intensely publishing stories about suspended GB News presenter Dan Wootton since mid-July 2023. The first series of articles exposed him as an alleged ‘serial catfish and sparked a Metropolitan Police probe’.
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These revelations, that actually go far beyond catfishing, have had consequences for the presenter. He was dismissed by Daily Mail and has been suspended from GB News since the end of September. However, GB News hasn’t officially linked his suspension to the Byline revelations but instead linked it to Laurence Fox’ sexist rant.
Now, with this new series of articles, Byline Times is going to unveil Wootton’s ‘dealings with the royal household’.
What Byline promises to reveal
Their teaser article for this new series was published on 25 October and gives a list of what the rest will bring to light. This new series of articles coincides with the launch of Byline’s ‘first retail edition available in shops’.
With this edition their intention is clearly stated by Hardeep Matharu, editor of Byline. She writes:
In its first retail edition available in shops, we are revealing the world exclusive story about how and why Prince Harry and Meghan left our Royal Family: ‘The Truth About Megxit’.
The story sheds new light on the toxic co-dependency between the royals and the Murdoch press, and raises fresh questions about the extent to which the monarchy will go to protect the reputation of its key members.
Matharu also adds:
it appears that the institution of the monarchy was willing to avoid fully investigating the leak of confidential information about the Sussexes to journalist Dan Wootton, and seemed to take sides with the press over Prince Harry.
The investigation led by Dan Evans and Tom Latchem, who have been leading the Dan Wootton investigation as well, promises to tackled these topics:
- 'Prince Harry and Meghan were forced out of the Sandringham Agreement' [explained below]
- a 'partner of a key aide to Prince William' allegedly received '£4,000 from The Sun' for stories about the Sussexes when Dan Wooton was editor
- Byline Times has 'new photographic evidence of Wootton, the aide and the aide’s partner at a lavish private birthday party'
- Prince Harry was aware of Wootton's involvement and sent legal warnings which detail the links between 'Wootton and the palace to News UK.'
- Royal aides and close advisors to King Charles are rumoured to have 'put pressure on Harry to alter the legal papers.'
- When Prince Harry refused, 'the Sussexes were cut adrift financially and left unable to protect themselves despite having a security threat level equal to the monarch.'
- Royals thought 'the threat of exposure would force Harry and Meghan to return to the UK'
This list is not the full list of the revelations Byline might cover but includes the most relevant and key facts.
How these new revelations could corroborate Harry and Meghan’s claims
Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family in March 2020, people have speculated about the reasons behind their choice.
Before tackling the revelations Byline is scheduled to make, it is crucial to remember that when they stepped down, Prince Harry and his wife did not want to leave their royal duties. Indeed, in a statement they released in January 2020, the couple writes:
we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
That statement was followed by a meeting at Sandringham between Queen Elizabeth, then-Prince Charles, Prince Williams, and Prince Harry. Following the gathering, the Queen wrote a statement on 13 January 2020 stating:
Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.
At the time it was understood that Prince Harry and Meghan would continue their Royal and public duties from Canada, which is part of the Commonwealth.
Since that didn't happen, the Sussexes have made a living out of exposing the Royal Family in what could be seen as an attempt to no longer be perceived as the 'bad guys'. For instance, in their Netflix documentary, the Sussexes addressed the fact that they didn’t intend to step away from the Royal Family but instead to stand down and have some distance.
Moreover, they also mentioned their surprise and shock when their security was pulled. That event seems to be a key point in the Byline investigation and, from their teaser, it appears that their investigation has the potential to corroborate the claims the Sussexes have been making for the past three years.
Indeed, it now emerges that the Palace’s decision was made after Prince Harry refused to change the legal letters he had sent 'detailing the claims about Wootton and the palace to News UK’.
Not only that, Byline alleges that the choice to remove Prince Harry and Meghan’s security was a ploy to ‘force’ the Sussexes to return to the UK. A ploy which was put in place even though the Firm was well aware of the security threats the couple was under.
Read more:
⋙ Dan Wootton: Where has the presenter gone after dramatic exit from GB News?
⋙ Prince Harry and Meghan villainized once again by former royal staff in bombshell claim
⋙ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as world leaders: Is it so hard to imagine?
Sources:
Byline Times: Exploding ‘Megxit’: How Dan Wootton and a Cash-for-Leaks Scandal Split the Monarchy
Byline Times: Exploding ‘Megxit’: Our Royalty and Press Paint a Distorted Portrait of Britain
Tatler: Inside the Sandringham summit that resulted in the Queen’s statement confirming Sussex departure
