Prince Harry is celebrating a major legal victory in his fight against British tabloids. The younger son of King Charles first filed the invasion of privacy lawsuit against News Group Newspapers and its tabloids The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World in 2019.
Last Minute Settlement Includes Lengthy Apology for Prince
The settlement comes just as the case was set to go to trial. The Sun published the lengthy apology, which included an acknowledgment of intruding on the life of the Duke of Sussex’s late mother, Princess Diana as well.
The apology reads:
NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.
NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.
NGN further apologises to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years.
We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the Duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages.
It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN’s response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.
NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in Government by the News of the World during the period 2009- 2011.
This includes him being placed under surveillance in 2009 by journalists at the News of the World and those instructed by them. NGN also acknowledges and apologises for the adverse impact this had on Lord Watson’s family and has agreed to pay him substantial damages.
In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information was being passed covertly to Lord Watson from within News International. We now understand that this information was false, and Lord Watson was not in receipt of any such confidential information. NGN apologises fully and unequivocally for this.
Legal Victory Comes with Multi-million Dollar Payout
The settlement reportedly comes with a payout in excess of $12 million. Speaking outside the High Court, Prince Harry’s attorney David Sherborne called the settlement a “monumental victory.”
This is the prince’s second such victory against British tabloids. He won a case against The Mirror Group in 2023. A third lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, which owns The Daily Mail, is ongoing.
Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle also won a lawsuit against The Daily Mail’s publisher after it printed a private letter she wrote to her estranged father in 2018.
Prince Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, congratulated the prince on his latest victory. Charles Spencer posted that his sister would be “immensely touched” and “rightly proud” that Prince Harry secured an apology for her and himself.
English (US) ·