Rupert Murdoch’s appearance at Windsor Castle for Donald Trump’s state banquet has reignited scrutiny of the monarchy’s ties to powerful media figures. The 94-year-old media mogul, joined by his fifth wife Elena Zhukova, stepped into the royal spotlight alongside business leaders, politicians, and the taxpayer royals.

His presence was striking. Trump is currently suing Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its reporting on a birthday note linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a letter Trump denies writing. Yet despite this looming legal battle, Murdoch dined in Windsor’s gilded halls with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William.

Murdoch’s Rare Appearance at Windsor

The banquet drew a guest list that included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Still, Murdoch’s arrival stood out. He and Zhukova last appeared in public at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in April and otherwise kept a low profile.

At Windsor, photographers captured the couple as they were shown to their seats. They were placed at a distance from Trump, yet their presence in the same room as Charles, Camilla, William and Kate underscored Murdoch’s enduring proximity to power.

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Prince Harry’s Courtroom Battles with Murdoch

The sight of Murdoch at Windsor sat uneasily with Prince Harry’s long legal fight against his media empire. Earlier this year, Harry secured a $12 million settlement from Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers after it admitted to hacking his voicemails and intruding into Princess Diana’s life. The judgment included a rare public apology, with Harry accusing Murdoch’s papers of years of torment.

In his 2023 witness statement, Harry said Clarence House and Buckingham Palace pressured him in 2019 to abandon his case. He alleged the institution feared angering Murdoch’s outlets, which it relied upon to smooth the path for Charles and Camilla’s acceptance as King and Queen Consort.


By pressing ahead, Harry cast himself as the only Windsor willing to confront Murdoch in court. That decision made the images of his father and brother hosting the mogul all the more jarring.

A Family Divided Over Loyalty

Reaction to Murdoch’s presence came quickly. Commentators contrasted Harry’s pursuit of accountability with his family’s willingness to extend hospitality to the man he fought in court. On social media, critics called the spectacle a betrayal. Some accused the monarchy of dining with “the devils” while Harry stood alone in defending Diana’s memory.

For others, the banquet confirmed a long-standing truth. The Crown has relied on Murdoch’s empire to secure favorable coverage for decades. Murdoch’s walk into Windsor Castle suggested that the pact between monarchy and press still endures, even as court cases expose how deep the intrusions ran.

Final Thoughts

Murdoch’s attendance at Windsor highlighted the entanglement of monarchy, media, and politics. For Charles and William, welcoming him may have seemed pragmatic. For Harry, it symbolised the gulf that separates him from his family.

Harry left court with a settlement, an apology, and a clear conscience. His father and brother, however, opened the palace doors to the man he held responsible for making his life, and Diana’s, a target. The banquet spotlighted division rather than unity, leaving a stark question over whose interests the monarchy truly serves.

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