LONDON, England – Prince Harry has reached a settlement with Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, bringing his long-standing legal battle over alleged illegal information gathering by the tabloid publisher to a resolution. The settlement was announced just before the trial was set to begin.
News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, issued an apology to Prince Harry and agreed to pay “substantial damages,” acknowledging the unlawful actions taken by private investigators hired by the newspaper during a period spanning 1996 to 2011. The damages are reportedly in the range of eight figures.
The publisher also extended an apology for invasions of privacy committed by its reporters against Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. This marks a significant moment, as it is the first time the company has admitted wrongdoing related to such activities.
The trial had been scheduled to commence on a Tuesday but was delayed to accommodate settlement talks. Prince Harry, 40, was among the few who had chosen not to join the hundreds of claimants that previously settled with NGN over similar issues.
Harry was supposed to testify in the trial, which was to be conducted alongside former Labour MP Tom Watson. Represented by attorney David Sherborne, Harry was absent from the courtroom when the settlement was finalized.
In a released statement, NGN expressed regret for the illegal acts carried out by its journalists and private eyes. The statement also recognized the distress caused to Harry and the damage inflicted on his personal relationships.
In addition to Harry, NGN apologized to Lord Watson for the intrusion into his privacy by the News of the World between 2009 and 2011 and agreed to award him damages as well.
Outside the courthouse, Lord Watson commended Prince Harry’s role in this legal effort, highlighting his bravery in seeking to hold powerful media entities accountable. Watson urged Rupert Murdoch to personally apologize to Harry and others affected by his media empire’s practices.
Prince Harry previously stated that his motivation for pursuing the case was accountability, emphasizing that the legal costs would far surpass any potential court settlement. He expressed that he might be the last individual in a position to achieve such accountability.
The situation is reminiscent of other high-profile cases settled earlier, including those involving actor Hugh Grant and actress Sienna Miller. These individuals faced enormous potential legal fees, prompting many to settle before their cases reached trial.
The resolution underscores the complex balance between pursuing justice and managing the substantial costs associated with litigation.
