Prince Harry has reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, in a High Court case centered on allegations of unlawful information-gathering.
This agreement brings an end to a five-year legal struggle between Prince Harry and NGN. On Wednesday morning, his barrister, David Sherborne, announced that the parties had “reached an agreement” and that NGN would apologize to the Duke and pay “substantial damages.”
Reports suggest that the Duke could receive over £10 million (approximately $12 million) in damages. In a statement, he highlighted significant findings from the case and celebrated a “monumental victory,” emphasizing that “News UK is finally held accountable for its illegal actions and blatant disregard for the law.”
Full Statement from Prince Harry
David Sherborne issued the following statement on behalf of Prince Harry: “In a monumental victory today, News UK has admitted that The Sun, a flagship publication of Rupert Murdoch’s UK media empire, engaged in illegal practices. This admission vindicates countless other claimants who were pressured into settling without uncovering the truth of what happened to them.
“After years of resistance, denials, and legal battles by News Group Newspapers, which included spending over a billion pounds on payouts and legal fees – as well as silencing those in the know to obscure the full story – News UK has finally been held accountable for its unlawful actions and blatant disregard for the law.
“It has specifically acknowledged wrongdoing against Tom Watson and admitted the unlawful actions of both The Sun and the News of the World against Prince Harry.
“The uncovered truth reveals that NGN unlawfully employed over 100 private investigators for at least 16 years across more than 35,000 instances. This unlawful conduct was prevalent at both The Sun and the News of the World, with the complicity of all editors and executives, reaching the highest levels of the company.
“Even more troubling is that in the aftermath of a royal correspondent’s arrest in 2006, there was a concerted effort to cover up the reality of these events and who was aware of them. Senior executives actively obstructed justice by deleting over 30 million emails, destroying backup tapes, and issuing false denials during an ongoing police investigation. They consistently lied under oath to conceal their actions – in court and during the Leveson public inquiry.
“During her 2014 trial, Rebekah Brooks claimed, ‘When I was editor of The Sun, we ran a clean ship.’ Now, a decade later, as CEO of the company, they admit that under her editorial leadership, they operated a criminal enterprise. Far from being relics of the past, many individuals responsible for these unlawful actions remain in significant positions today, both at News UK and other global media outlets, perpetuating the toxic culture that allows them to thrive.
“It is perhaps unsurprising that these senior executives and editors chose not to appear in court to provide testimony. Their collective silence speaks volumes. Today’s outcome is a testament to the resilience of Prince Harry and Tom Watson, whose determination to take News Group Newspapers to trial has led to this historically significant admission of wrongdoing. It is only through bringing the case before the court that these claimants were able to secure this landmark confession.
“As a result of his stand, Prince Harry and his family have endured aggressive and vengeful media coverage since initiating his claim over five years ago, raising serious concerns about their security. The legal process must now be fully pursued. Prince Harry and Tom Watson, along with others, are calling for police and parliamentary investigations into both the admitted unlawful actions and the perjury and cover-ups that have occurred throughout.
“It is evident that these wrongful actions were perpetrated throughout this process, including during testimony given in inquiries and court hearings, and today’s collapse of News Group’s defense underscores that reality.”
Mr. Sherborne concluded: “Today, the lies are unveiled. The cover-ups have been exposed, proving that no one is above the law. The time for accountability has come. Thank you.”
