Sun printed Prince Harry's naked pics to point out lack of 'press freedom' in UK: Murdoch

London - Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has said that the Sun published embarrassing naked pictures Prince Harry because it was necessary to make a point about the lack of 'free press' in Britain.

News International has refused to comment on the matter, but Murdoch took to Twitter to explain why the tabloid newspaper became the first British publication to print the images of the prince partying in Las Vegas.

According to The Daily Mail, Murdoch denied taking the decision to print the photos but said he agreed with the move.

"We needed to demonstrate no such thing as a free press in UK," Murdoch, 81, tweeted.

"Internet makes a mockery of these issues. 1st amendment please," he added.

According to the paper, sources told the Independent that the move came as Murdoch wanted to fire a warning shot at Lord Justice Leveson, the judge leading the Leveson inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press, prompted by the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

"There is a principle here. I know this is about Leveson but this is humiliating," Murdoch told News International chief executive Tom Mockridge.

"We can't carry on like this. We should run them, do it and say to Leveson, we are doing it for press freedom," he added.