Prince Harry has achieved a significant legal victory against Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper group, News Group Newspapers . The publisher admitted for the first time to unlawful actions at its tabloid, The Sun, and agreed to a substantial damages payment. Harry had accused NGN of illegally obtaining private information about him from 1996 to 2011 and intruding into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana.
The settlement, reported to be over £10 million, primarily covers legal fees. NGN issued an apology for the serious intrusion into Harry's private life, acknowledging the actions of private investigators, not journalists. This marks the first time NGN has admitted to unlawful activity at The Sun, avoiding a potentially damaging trial.
This lawsuit is one of three major legal actions Harry has pursued against British media. He has also successfully litigated against Mirror Group Newspapers and has a pending action against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The settlement with NGN is seen as a victory for Harry, who plans to pressure politicians and police to revisit the phone-hacking scandal that emerged in 2006.
The phone-hacking scandal led to arrests and the closure of News of the World in 2011. NGN has settled claims from over 1,300 people, with total payouts exceeding £1 billion. The company aims to finalize all disputes without trial, continuing its longstanding commitment to settle justified claims.
While NGN admitted wrongdoing at The Sun, it maintained that there was no senior-level cover-up. No comment was provided by Buckingham Palace or Prince William’s office regarding the settlement.
