Prince Harry Receives Apology and Damages Following Unlawful Intrusion Into His Private Life
LONDON: The Duke of Sussex has successfully reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, following accusations of serious privacy invasions. The publisher issued a full and unequivocal apology to Prince Harry, acknowledging significant violations of his private life between 1996 and 2011, and agreed to pay substantial damages.
The legal action was initiated by Prince Harry and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson, both of whom alleged unlawful information gathering through phone hacking and surveillance by journalists and private investigators. Despite NGN’s previous denials, the publisher admitted to incidents of unlawful activities that caused harm to personal relationships and family dynamics.
The case was set to begin in the High Court, but after multiple adjournments, a resolution was reached outside the courtroom. Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, confirmed that the agreement included both an apology from NGN and financial compensation for the Duke.
Lord Watson, who was also part of the legal proceedings, also received an apology from NGN for surveillance carried out on him between 2009 and 2011, and for the damage caused to his family. He further called on Rupert Murdoch, owner of NGN, to issue a personal apology to both the Duke and the King.
Sherborne hailed the settlement as a “monumental victory,” criticising the practices within the publisher as “a criminal enterprise.” He also pointed out that many individuals responsible for these unlawful activities remain in powerful media positions today, perpetuating a toxic culture.
NGN’s statement acknowledged the significant harm caused by the unlawful actions, particularly the media’s invasion into the private life of Prince Harry’s late mother, Diana, which affected him deeply during his youth. The publisher apologised for the distress caused and reiterated its commitment to paying compensation.
Commentators labelled the apology as a major step forward for Prince Harry, with royal expert Jennie Bond describing it as “extraordinary.” This resolution offers the Duke an opportunity to move forward with his life, particularly as he seeks justice for his mother’s suffering in the media.
