Piers Morgan: Host praises 'free speech' after Ofcom ruling

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Mr Morgan’s comments on Good Morning Britain about the Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah Winfrey interview were cleared by the watchdog this week. But commentator Adam Helliker claimed the ruling will leave Meghan – who quit royal duties with Prince Harry last year for a new life in California – “more determined than ever”.

Mr Helliker told the Sun: “I think she’s going to feel more determined and it will up her game so to speak.

“She will convince all her followers that this is how Britain operates.

“I think she will see it as yet another method of protecting the Royal Family.

“And it just kind of – the divide is getting ever deeper.

“And the longer it goes on, the rift, you just wonder, how on earth can they ever come back from that?

“They will up their game in terms of putting out more statements, being more independent and just pushing away even further.”

Ofcom on Wednesday ruled Mr Morgan’s comments about the Duchess did not breach the broadcasting code.

His remarks on GMB about Meghan’s interview sparked more than 50,000 complaints, the most in the watchdog’s history.

Mr Morgan sensationally left the ITV show after saying he did not believe claims made by the former Suits actress.

The Duchess claimed she was ignored when she approached the monarchy feeling suicidal and accused an unnamed royal of making a racist comment about Archie.

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Discussing the interview the following morning, Mr Morgan blasted: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says.

“I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”

Ofcom said his comments were “potentially harmful and highly offensive” but were thoroughly challenged by his co-host Susanna Reid and ITV News’s royal editor Chris Ship during the programme.

The judgment said: “The code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views, including those that are potentially harmful or highly offensive, and for broadcasters to include these in their programming.

“The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”

Mr Morgan hailed the decision as a “landmark ruling”.

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