Prince Harry has reached a landmark settlement with Rupert Murdoch's British tabloids over unlawful phone tapping and other forms of privacy invasion, concluding his lawsuit with News Group Newspapers (NGN) just days before the scheduled trial was to begin.
The agreement, announced on January 22, 2025, saw the Duke of Sussex secure significant damages and formal apologies from NGN, acknowledging years of intrusive practices by its publications, which include The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World. This settlement marks one of the few times the organization has admitted to wrongdoing, particularly concerning the claim of phone hacking.
NGN issued a full and unequivocal apology to Prince Harry, stating, “NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.” Their acknowledgment extends to the impact on Harry's family and his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, whose life was deeply affected by the press during her time as a royal.
The settlement reportedly cost NGN over £10 million (approximately $13 million) when combined with the payout to former Labour Party politician Tom Watson, who also had case claims against the Murdoch-owned press for similar grievances. Watson expressed relief at the settlement, stating, "I wish they had left my family alone. Today, I'm glad they have finally accepted responsibility,” reflecting the emotional toll these invasions have had on him and his loved ones.
Harry's legal representative, David Sherborne, described the settlement as "a monumental victory," stressing its significance not just for Prince Harry but for numerous other victims who have been forced to settle out of court without obtaining full accountability. Sherborne emphasized the necessity for investigations, stating, "The time for accountability has arrived," urging the U.K. government and police to probe not only the admitted unlawful activities but also potential perjury and cover-ups associated with them.
Since launching the lawsuit in 2019, Harry has been determined to hold the press accountable for their actions, criticizing their role not only in altering his family dynamics but also for their complicity, he asserts, leading to his mother’s tragic death involving relentless media pursuit. The tabloid culture, he argues, perpetuates harmful narratives about public figures, endangering lives for the sake of profit.
The case against NGN is part of Harry's larger struggle against the British tabloid press, which has often been described as invasive and aggressive. The emotional connection to this battle is personal for Harry, who has said, "the tabloid press has been central to the breakdown of my relationship with the rest of the Royal Family," indicating the broader impact of the media's actions on his life.
The admission by NGN, unprecedented concerning The Sun, signifies shifts within how media organizations may approach past malpractice as transparency becomes increasingly demanded by the public. This sentiment echoes sentiments from Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, who commented, “It's just wonderful... Harry fought for, and gained, an apology to his mother.”
Despite NGN's apology, the organization has maintained its defense against allegations of orchestrated cover-ups by its senior executives, with claims contested during legal proceedings. Their statement underscored, “While there were unlawful actions carried out by private investigators, we stress these were not conducted by journalists,” shifting the narrative of accountability away from editorial staff and onto contract workers.
The fallout from this case goes beyond Harry as both he and Watson have rallied for systemic change, proposing more stringent oversight of press practices to prevent similar invasions of privacy. The trial was set to expose extensive evidence of misconduct, and as such, many view the settlement as avoiding potential damaging revelations for Murdoch’s press empire.
With this settlement, Prince Harry has undoubtedly achieved at least part of his goal of “exposing all their lies and manipulation to the public,” affirming his stance against media malpractice and paving the way for more significant discussions about privacy and ethics within journalism. The combination of substantial damages, public acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and calls for reform signals the enduring shift toward accountability demanded by public figures.