Prince Harry settles high-profile case against UK tabloids
Prince Harry has settled his high-profile lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's The Sun newspaper in a UK court.
As a result of the settlement, the UK tabloid made an unprecedented apology to the royal for intruding on his personal life, and also acknowledged intruding on the private life of his mother, the late Princess Diana.
Prince Harry's attorney David Sherborne read from settlement statement in court, which states that 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 working for The Sun."
News Group acknowledged "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators" aimed at Harry, despite NGN having strongly denied those allegations before trial.
The publishers also "further apologise 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."
The statement further read, "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 was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, a paper once known for featuring topless women on Page 3.
Harry, 40, and one other man were the only two remaining claimants out of more than 1300 others who had settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully intruded in their lives.
"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," Sherborne said outside the High Court in London.
The outcome in the News Group case raises questions about how Harry's third case — against the publisher of the Daily Mail which is scheduled for next year — will proceed.
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