The legal battle between the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, and The Sun publishers has finally come to a close, with the Prince securing victory. Owners of the newspaper have agreed to pay “substantial damages” to the Duke for intruding into his private life illegally. The publishers have also offered apologies.
The Prince’s lawyer, David Sherborne disclosed this to London’s High Court. He stated that the media group admitted to gathering information about the prince and his late mom, Princess Diana with methods that violated the law and their privacy.
Sherborne said NGN apologized on Wednesday, January 2025, “for the phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.” This will be the first time, the publisher will own up to violating the law.
The NGN apologized for the “distress caused to the duke” and “damage inflicted on relationships, friendships, and family.” Sherborne called the outcome a “monumental victory,” as they read the development to the court. At the close of the court session, he threw more light on the settlement as he spoke to journalists outside.
“After endless resistance, denials, and legal battles by News Group Newspapers … News UK is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law,” he declared. Prince Harry was joined in the suit by Lord Watson, a former Labour Member of Parliament (MP).
Watson alleged that the media group similarly targeted him while he was investigating the Murdoch newspapers. At the time, the group was enmeshed in a disturbing phone-hacking scandal that provoked a government inquiry. The case later led to the closure of News of the World.
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What Happened Between Prince Harry and the Sun Publishers?
Prince Harry, 40, had accused Robert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN), publishers of The Sun and News of the World, of sending journalists and private investigators after him and his late mother, Prince Diana. He stated that these agents employed unlawful means to gather information about him and his mom.
The private investigators hired by NGN hacked thousands of phones to glean this information, the prince claimed. Prince Harry also alleged that information the company obtained from him and his mother during the period in question produced over 200 newspaper articles.
Afterward, executives of the company, who knew about the crimes, swept them under the carpet. Prince Harry stated that the incident in question took place from 1996 to 2001. Just as the case was to go to trial, NGN decided to settle out of court and apologize for their actions.
The Prince was just one out of the hundreds of people who accused the conglomerate of the offense. The others had agreed with the media group to settle the case without trial. But in a move that took NGN aback, Prince Harry and Lord Watson insisted on taking the case to trial.
The case was initially scheduled for trial on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. However, the legal representatives of both parties repeatedly requested a delay to reach an agreement.
Already, the phone hacking scandal has cost the Murdoch business over a billion pounds, according to a 2021 newspaper investigation. The amount went to legal costs and payment for people who had accused NGN of privacy intrusion.
Why Did Prince Harry Sue the Sun Publishers?
Prince Harry and Lord Watson also gave reasons why they refused to accept an earlier settlement just like the hundreds of other claimants. They wanted NGN to admit to its actions. According to Sherborne, his client is now satisfied that he has been able to get to the root of the matter.
“Today, the lies are laid bare. Today, the cover-ups are exposed. And today proves that no one stands above the law. The time for accountability has arrived,” he told journalists outside the court. He also urged the authorities to apply the full weight of the law on NGN.
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A spokesperson for NGN has also released a statement concerning the issue. Speaking with CNN, they stated that the offenses were carried out by private investigators and not journalists.
The spokesperson has also stated that the group has carried out some reforms in its tabloid. “There are strong controls and processes in place at all our titles today to ensure this cannot happen now.” However, the spokesperson maintained that The Sun never carried out voicemail interceptions.
Concerning allegations that NGN destroyed 2010 and 2011, the spokesperson debunked the claims. “This matter was also investigated fully by the police and CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) between 2012-2015, at the conclusion of which it was found that there was no case to answer,” they stated.
Why Did Prince Harry Settle With Rupert Murdoch Tabloids?
Prince Harry agreed to settle with the NGN on the condition that the group own up to their actions and apologize for them. NGN also apologized to Lord Watson for “unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in government by the News of the World during the period 2009-2011.”
The Prince wasn’t present in court. But Watson attended the proceedings. According to the former MP, the offenses were not isolated incidents. He described them as “industrial in scale.” He also praised the Duke for his courage and doggedness in helping hold to account a section of the media that seemed above the law.
Lord Watson also stated that his legal team would be handing over their findings to the police. “No one is above the law,” he declared. According to reports, the “substantial damages” the NGN agreed to pay Prince Harry and Lord Watson is at least 12 million pounds.
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