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In a significant development that marks a turning point in British media history, Prince Harry has secured a major legal victory against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. The settlement, announced Wednesday in London’s High Court, includes both a formal apology and substantial monetary compensation for years of privacy violations against the Duke of Sussex.
Historic settlement in longstanding privacy battle
News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the former News of the World, has issued “a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex” for systematic privacy intrusions spanning decades. The settlement came just as the high-profile trial was set to begin, making Prince Harry’s case the closest to reach trial among over 1,300 similar claims against the publisher.
The 40-year-old prince, along with former Labour Party MP Tom Watson, were the final holdouts in a massive group of claimants that included celebrities and public figures. These individuals alleged that between 1994 and 2016, News Group journalists and their hired investigators engaged in various forms of privacy violation, including voicemail interception, phone tapping, and car bugging.
Royal family tensions and personal motivations
The legal action has created friction within the royal family, with court documents revealing that King Charles III opposed his son’s lawsuit. Prince Harry also disclosed that his brother, Prince William, had previously settled a private complaint with News Group, reportedly worth over £1 million ($1.23 million).
“I’m doing this for my reasons,” Prince Harry stated in the documentary “Tabloids On Trial,” though he expressed wishes for his family’s support in the legal battle.
A history of media conflict
Harry’s confrontation with British tabloids stems from deeply personal experiences. He attributes the death of his mother, Princess Diana, to paparazzi pursuit in Paris in 1997. More recently, he cites media harassment of his wife, Meghan Markle, as a key factor in their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States in 2020.
This settlement follows Harry’s previous victory against the Daily Mirror, where a judge ruled that phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at the publication. His testimony in that case made him the first senior royal to appear in court since the late 19th century.
Broader implications
The settlement reflects a broader reckoning in British media, dating back to 2011 when Murdoch closed News of the World following revelations about the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone. While News Group has apologized for voicemail interception at News of the World and settled numerous claims, The Sun has maintained its denial of liability.
Prince Harry’s legal campaign continues, with a third case against the Daily Mail’s publisher scheduled for trial next year, suggesting his battle against British tabloids is far from over.
