A former Sergeant Major has had his complaint about a regional daily’s coverage of Prince Harry’s book rejected by the press watchdog.

Michael Booley complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation after the Birmingham Mail reported on comments he had made regarding his experience accompanying the Duke of Sussex on a flight training exercise.

The Mail reported that Mr Booley had been “staggered” and “in shock” at the Duke’s recollection of the incident in his autobiography, Spare, but he claimed the Mail had presented his reaction in an inaccurate and misleading manner.

Complaining under Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 2 (Privacy), and Clause 10 (Clandestine devices and subterfuge) of the Editors’ Code, he said the story presented his shock as being due to alleged inaccuracies in Prince Harry’s story – whereas in reality, he was in shock at being mentioned, and complimented, in the autobiography.

Mr Booley also believed his privacy had been breached because he had heard strange noises on his iPad and telephone – though he did not specifically say that the publication had caused these noises.

Denying any breach of Code, the Mail said Mr Booley didn’t dispute having made the comments.

It also noted he had sight of the context in which the another publication, on whose coverage the story was based, planned to use this quote prior to publication, and raised no objections at the time.

The Mail did not consider that the terms of Clause 2 or Clause 10 were engaged by the complainant’s concerns.

IPSO found the comments had been made in the context of a discussion about what Mr Booley saw as an inaccurate recollection of the flying exercise.

Taking these factors into account, and on balance, the Complaints Committee did not consider the story inaccurate, distorted, or misleading on this point.

It did not consider that there was sufficient basis to identify a possible breach of Clause 2 or Clause 10 in relation to his electronic devices on the part of the Mail.

The complaint was not upheld, and the full adjudication can be read here.