Prince Harry has secured what his legal team describes as a “monumental victory” in his long-running privacy battle with the publishers of "The Sun” newspaper.
The media group apologised to Prince Harry for "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators."
The highly anticipated court case in London ended before it began, with a settlement announced on Wednesday morning.
Prince Harry had been prepared to fly to the UK to give evidence next month
Moments before opening statements were due, proceedings were delayed several times as both sides worked to finalise an agreement.
The settlement included a “full and unequivocal apology” from News Group Newspapers (NGN) for intrusions into Prince Harry’s private life.
The admission today by Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers that there were unlawful activities by private investigators working for the Sun also raises the question whether the first Leveson inquiry was given all relevant information when investigating phone hacking and illegal… pic.twitter.com/YpTBfbGw2d
— Robert Peston (@Peston) January 22, 2025
According to the BBC, reports suggest the settlements for both Prince Harry and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson have cost NGN more than £10m (R230 million), including payouts and legal fees.
NGN acknowledged that private investigators hired on behalf of “The Sun” used unlawful methods, though it stressed that its journalists were not involved.
The case has always been deeply personal for Prince Harry. A significant part of the settlement was an apology to his late mother, Princess Diana, for intrusions into her privacy.
Diana’s brother, Lord Spencer, expressed his support on social media platform “X”, posting, “It’s just wonderful that Harry fought for, and gained, an apology to his mother.”
While the settlement brings closure for both parties, it also means Prince Harry did not have the opportunity to present his case in court.
Witnesses who were expected to testify will now not be heard, and NGN continues to deny allegations of a corporate cover-up.
NGN released a statement saying, “Today’s settlement draws a line under the past and brings an end to this litigation.”
The publisher has faced extensive legal costs, with over £1bn (R23 billion) spent on more than 1,300 claims, none of which proceeded to court.
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