Prince Harry achieved a significant victory against Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper conglomerate on Wednesday as the publisher settled his lawsuit. This settlement marked the first time the publisher of The Sun tabloid admitted to unlawful conduct and agreed to pay unspecified damages to Harry. The lawsuit, brought by the 40-year-old prince, alleged that News Groups Newspapers (NGN) illegally obtained his private information between 1996 and 2011.
In a statement read by Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, in court, News Group offered a full apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information conducted by journalists and private investigators under their instruction. Sherborne revealed that NGN had acknowledged Harry’s victimization by unlawful activities at The Sun and phone-hacking by News of the World, agreeing to pay substantial damages.
Sherborne emphasized the need for accountability and called on British authorities to launch investigations, alleging that NGN executives facilitated the deletion of 30 million emails over the years, obstructing the civil case. The lawyer also criticized Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of The Sun, suggesting that the company ran a criminal enterprise during her tenure.
Furthermore, NGN issued a full and unequivocal apology to Harry for the intrusion into his private life and acknowledged the impact of the extensive media coverage on him and his late mother, Princess Diana. The settlement also included substantial damages to compensate for the distress caused to the Duke.
Harry, who has been vocal about his grievances with British tabloids, initiated the lawsuit against NGN in 2019. The trial, which was set to begin, was averted with this settlement. Despite the ongoing legal battles, NGN maintained that there was no wrongdoing at The Sun and that the settlement signaled the likely conclusion of further lawsuits.
In a similar case, Labour Party member Tom Watson received an apology from NGN for privacy breaches during his time in government. The joint statement by Harry and Watson highlighted NGN’s payments exceeding 1 billion pounds over the years. Watson commended Harry’s courage in pursuing the matter and called for a personal apology from Rupert Murdoch to the affected individuals.
The settlement with NGN is a significant win for Harry, who has been at the forefront of legal battles against media intrusion. The resolution of this case may mark the end of a chapter in the ongoing saga of phone-hacking scandals involving British tabloids and their repercussions.