LONDON – Prince Harry celebrated a significant legal victory as Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids issued an extraordinary apology for their years of invasive actions into his life and consented to pay him a hefty settlement in his lawsuit over privacy violations.
News Group Newspapers formally admitted that its journalists and private investigators targeted Harry through phone hacking, surveillance, and the unauthorized use of private information. The company expressed a “full and unequivocal apology” for the intrusions carried out by the now-defunct News of the World and its sibling publication, The Sun.
The apology was delivered during a session at the High Court in London by Harry’s attorney, David Sherborne, and notably extended to acknowledge the consequences of these actions on Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, and their disruptive effects on his family.
“We recognize and apologize for the distress caused to the duke, as well as the damage inflicted on his relationships and family,” the statement articulated, adding that substantial damages would be paid to him as part of the settlement.
This development marks the first time News Group has openly accepted responsibility for any wrongdoing related to The Sun, which enjoyed massive sales in its heyday, priding itself on a sensational mix of sports, celebrity gossip, and provocative content.
Harry, 40, the second son of King Charles III, was prepared to bring his case to trial to publicly unveil the actions of The Sun and secure a court ruling acknowledging his claims. Out of over 1,300 complainants who settled their lawsuits against News Group, he and former Labour MP Tom Watson were the only two remaining plaintiffs when the trial, set to commence on Tuesday, was abruptly postponed as negotiations materialized.
While Harry will not face court and present his case, his lawyer stated that the settlement still holds accountability for himself and the many others subjected to intrusive practices like intercepted voicemails and phone tapping.
News Group has admitted to targeting Harry through “phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information” by their journalists and private detectives, despite previously denying these charges.
“This solidifies a vindication for the hundreds of claimants who were pressured into settling before discovering the full extent of what was perpetrated against them,” Sherborne stated outside the court.
Harry’s tumultuous relationship with the media stretches back to his childhood when the tabloids sensationalized everything about him, from injuries to personal relationships, creating a substantial legacy of animosity. However, the roots of this feud run deeper, with Harry attributing the role of the press in the tragic death of his mother in 1997 due to a car crash while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris. He also cited their relentless attacks on Meghan Markle, his wife, as contributing factors in their decision to abandon royal responsibilities and move to the United States in 2020.
Harry has noted that this legal battle has caused tension within his family, highlighting in the documentary “Tabloids On Trial” that his father opposed his legal actions. Furthermore, he pointed out that his brother William, the Prince of Wales and heir apparent, had opted to settle his own complaint against News Group, which was reportedly worth more than 1 million pounds (approximately $1.23 million).
“I’m engaging in this for my reasons,” Harry commented to the documentarians, expressing a desire for family support in his endeavor.
Watson, who has also contested claims against News Group, mentioned that the misguided target by NGN had negatively affected both him and his family. “I once declared that the titans of the tabloid world had no challengers. I was mistaken; they have Prince Harry. We owe him our gratitude for his relentless determination amid immense pressure,” Watson remarked.
Watson, who similarly received an apology and a significant settlement, urged Murdoch to personally extend an apology to Harry along with the king and many others impacted by tabloid invasions.
News Group articulated that the settlement signals a closure to previous disputes, putting an end to years of litigation. The company has resolved over 1,300 claims without facing trial, disbursing more than 1 billion pounds (roughly $1.24 billion) in compensations and legal fees.
Harry’s attorney conveyed that questions persist about the company’s past, accusing them of engaging in “perjury and cover-ups” to conceal the facts, including the destruction of 30 million emails and other important documents over the years.
“A comprehensive conspiracy existed,” Sherborne stated, claiming that “senior executives actively obstructed justice.”
Despite the company’s admissions regarding the actions of private investigators, they maintained their stance that no actions taken by their journalists involved any wrongdoing, asserting, “There was no voicemail interception pertaining to The Sun.”
Harry’s case against News Group was one of three legal actions targeting British tabloids for alleged privacy violations through interception of phone messages and unlawful activities by private investigators.
His successful case against the Daily Mirror concluded when a judge ruled that phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at the publication and its affiliated papers. Harry became the first senior royal to testify in court, breaking a more than a century-long tradition aimed at keeping royal matters discreet.
As the outcome of the News Group case raises uncertainties regarding his ongoing litigation against the Daily Mail’s publisher, that trial is currently set for the upcoming year.
