LONDON — A new chapter in Prince Harry’s ongoing battle with the British tabloids starts on Tuesday as he heads to trial against Rupert Murdoch’s publications, a legal challenge that could potentially cost him millions even if he emerges victorious.
Harry, the 40-year-old son of King Charles III, is currently one of two remaining claimants who have not settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers, the owner of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World. These lawsuits center around accusations of phone hacking and other intrusive privacy breaches carried out by investigators hired by the newspapers.
This trial marks the first time since the notorious phone hacking scandal which dismantled the News of the World in 2011 that a case against Murdoch’s publishing empire has reached the courtroom. Over 1,300 claims have already been settled by News Group.
For the Duke of Sussex, this case is significant as it follows his long-standing conflict with the press that he connects to the tragic passing of his mother, Princess Diana. Diana lost her life in a car accident while being pursued by paparazzi. Harry has also attributed the scrutiny of his wife, Meghan Markle, as part of the relentless media attacks that compelled them to abandon royal duties and relocate to the U.S. in 2020.
Harry insists that his struggle for media accountability is vital, despite causing a rift within his family. He has expressed a strong commitment to exposing the alleged misdeeds of the press.
In 2023, he won a court case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and still has pending litigation against the Daily Mail’s publisher. The unfolding trial involves serious accusations targeting various editors and executives.
Harry alleges that journalists and private investigators from News Group violated his privacy, employing illegal tactics to gather information about him and his family between 1996 and 2011.
Co-claimant Tom Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, revealed that his voicemails were intercepted during his investigation into the hacking scandal. Their legal team has claimed that the newspapers routinely engaged in deceptive practices, such as extracting medical, phone, and flight records, bugging residences, and installing listening devices within vehicles.
They argue that executives attempted to conceal these actions, including the destruction of relevant documents. In response, News Group stated that these allegations are unfounded and vehemently denied, asserting that Harry neglected to file his lawsuit within the required six-year limit.
While the publisher did express regret to victims of phone hacking in 2011, The Sun has never admitted liability for its actions.
The pressure to reach a settlement is high, as actor Hugh Grant, one of Harry’s former co-claimants, shared his decision to accept a significant monetary settlement due to the threat of accruing legal fees that could climb to £10 million ($12.3 million) despite a potential win.
Under English civil law, if a claimant wins a judgment lower than the offered settlement, they are responsible for covering both parties’ legal expenses, a move designed to disincentivize protracted trials.
Despite the looming financial risks, Harry affirmed his resolve to pursue the trial, stating in December that he would not back down. “They’ve settled because they’ve had to settle,” he noted regarding other claimants, underscoring his belief in the importance of accountability.
The trial, expected to unfold over ten weeks, will see Harry back on the witness stand for several days come February. He made history in 2023 as the first senior royal to provide testimony in court since the late 1800s.
This legal endeavor has placed Harry at odds with his family, which is known for its “never complain, never explain” ethos. Legal documents indicate that Harry’s father is against the litigation, and that his brother, William, the heir to the throne, accepted a substantial sum to settle his own complaint with News Group.
Harry admitted that his pursuit of justice against the tabloids has contributed to the strain within the family, expressing a desire for his relatives to stand with him against media transgressions, but he remains steadfast in his decision to continue for his own reasons.
Although News Group has repeatedly sought to dismiss the case in the past two years, Harry has faced stumbles during what have been contentious hearings. Notably, the judge dismissed his claims regarding phone hacking due to their timing, suggesting that Harry had the opportunity to file sooner, given the public nature of the scandal.
The judge also declined to admit Harry’s attempts to expand his case to include allegations involving his mother or implicating Murdoch, ruling that such claims would not add meaningful substance to the ongoing litigation that already includes reputable associates of Murdoch.
Additionally, the judge rejected Harry’s assertion of an undisclosed agreement between Buckingham Palace and News Group that aimed to mitigate the fallout from their past actions, as Harry could not produce supporting evidence or witnesses.
News Group categorically denied the existence of any hidden agreements regarding settlements.
