Prince Harry Wins Landmark Victory in Tabloid Lawsuit
Tabloids Make Historic Apology, Agree to Pay Substantial Damages
Prince Harry claimed a monumental victory on Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life over decades and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.
The Statement
News Group Newspapers offered 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," Harry’s attorney, David Sherborne, read from a statement in court.
Apology Extends to Harry’s Mother, Princess Diana
The statement even went beyond the scope of the lawsuit to acknowledge intruding on the life of Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana.
Hundreds of Others Vindicated
"This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them," Harry said in the statement read by Sherborne outside the High Court in London.
Case History
Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, and one other man were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1,300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully intruded in their lives.
The Truth Revealed
Sherborne said the company had engaged in "perjury and cover-ups" to obscure the truth for years, deleting 30 million emails and other records.
Harry’s Statement
"At her trial in 2014, Rebekah Brooks said, ‘When I was editor of The Sun, we ran a clean ship,’" he said. "Now, 10 years later when she is CEO of the company, they now admit, when she was editor of The Sun, they ran a criminal enterprise."
The Outcome
In all the cases that have been brought against the publisher since a widespread phone hacking scandal forced Murdoch to close News of the World in 2011, Harry’s case got the closest to trial.
Next Steps
The outcome in the News Group case raises questions about how Harry’s third case — against the publisher of the Daily Mail — will proceed. That trial is scheduled next year.
Conclusion
This landmark victory is a testament to Prince Harry’s determination to hold the media accountable for their wrongdoing. His willingness to take a stand has resulted in a major apology and compensation for his and hundreds of other victims of privacy invasion.
FAQs
- Who was the primary plaintiff in this case?
- Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
- What were the allegations against News Group Newspapers?
- Phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators
- How many other claimants settled with News Group Newspapers?
- More than 1,300
- What was the outcome of Harry’s case?
- A historic apology and substantial damages for privacy invasion