By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-22 12:31:52 | Updated at 2025-01-22 15:36:14
3 hours ago
Prince Harry today accepted a 'substantial' payout from The Sun's publisher which said sorry to him and his mother Princess Diana for intruding into their private lives.
News Group Newspapers (NGN) offered an 'unreserved apology' to the Duke of Sussex for using private investigators to snoop on him.
A source quoted by Reuters said Harry's damages payout was in excess of £10million.
In a dramatic end to Harry's long-running legal battle, the publisher admitted private investigators used by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 had used unlawful methods to find out information about him.
A statement read out in open court said NGN 'apologises 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.'
Outside the High Court, barrister David Sherborne declared 'this historic admission of guilt' had been achieved 'only through the sheer resilience of Prince Harry'.
Mr Sherborne said: 'Today the lies are laid bare. Today, the cover-ups are exposed. And today proves that no one stands above the law. The time for accountability has arrived.'
Harry had previously vowed not to settle the six-year case out of court, insisting he was 'the last person' who could achieve a courtroom showdown with the newspaper group.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on March 30, 2023
David Sherborne gives a statement while standing next to Tom Watson
But having repeatedly rebuffed peace offers, as the trial was finally due to open at 10.30am, his barrister David Sherborne told the court: 'I am pleased to announce to the court that the parties have reached an agreement.'
It is the first time NGN, which had always denied the claims, has admitted unlawful activity in connection with The Sun.
It did not admit any wrongdoing by executives or any phone hacking at The Sun. It apologised for phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World.
Lord Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader, was also taking legal action against the publisher, and also settled his claim.
The News Group Newspapers said: 'NGN offers 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.
'NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.
'NGN further apologises 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.
'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.
Lord Watson later delivered his own personal statement outside the court
'It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN's response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.
'NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in Government by the News of the World during the period 2009-2011.
'This includes him being placed under surveillance in 2009 by journalists at the News of the World and those instructed by them.
'NGN also acknowledges and apologises for the adverse impact this had on Lord Watson's family and has agreed to pay him substantial damages.
'In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information was being passed covertly to Lord Watson from within News International. We now understand that this information was false, and Lord Watson was not in receipt of any such confidential information. NGN apologises fully and unequivocally for this.'
After the settlement was announced, Mr Justice Fancourt addressed the press and the public who had gathered in the court where the trial was due to take place, those in an overspill court, and a large number of the members of the media who had joined remotely.
He said: 'I am sorry that you were kept waiting around yesterday, expecting the trial to start.
'I am sorry that for some time yesterday it was probably unclear to some of you what was happening.'
Lord Watson and Mr Sherborne outside court following today's settlement
He added that 'these things happen in litigation' and there is a limit to what can be said in circumstances where parties are close to reaching a settlement.
Mr Justice Fancourt said the agreement would include terms of the settlement, some of which he would set out in the court order and others which would remain confidential.
He also said that as a result of the settlement, the issues were not tried in this case, adding it would be 'hard to imagine' other claimants would take them to trial.
Mr Justice Fancourt added that it was 'regrettable' the agreement was only reached at a very late stage as huge resources had been dedicated to preparing for the trial, but that it was the parties' prerogative to reach a settlement.
