Prince Harry Destroys Rupert Murdoch in Court

Prince Harry has secured an eight-figure settlement, reportedly exceeding $12 million, from News Group Newspapers (NGN) in a legal battle over illegal information gathering by The Sun newspaper and the now-defunct News of the World.

The settlement, reached on January 22, 2025, came after intense negotiations that delayed the start of the expected six-week trial in London. The case marks the first time NGN has admitted to unlawful activities at The Sun.

Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, declared, “In a monumental victory today, News UK has admitted that The Sun, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices. 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,” while speaking outside the High Court in London.

The scandal first came to public attention in 2006 and led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011. Since then, NGN has paid out approximately $1.27 billion in claims from more than 1,300 people, including celebrities, politicians, and sports figures.

Sherborne revealed that “NGN unlawfully engaged more than 100 private investigators over at least 16 years on more than 35,000 occasions. This happened as much at The Sun as it did at the News of the World, with the knowledge of all the editors and executives, going to the very top of the company.” 

The settlement comes months after Murdoch’s media empire paid $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit against Fox News over the 2020 U.S. presidential election claims.

Harry’s co-claimant, former Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson, commended the prince’s unwavering determination, highlighting his bravery and exceptional courage in holding an influential media segment accountable. Watson emphasized that many victims are likely deeply grateful for Harry’s steadfast support and perseverance, especially given the extraordinary pressure he faced. 

The legal battle has taken a toll on Harry and his family. Sherborne noted that “as a direct result of him taking a stand, Prince Harry and his immediate family have also had to repeatedly withstand aggressive and vengeful coverage since starting his claim over five years ago.” 

The settlement follows Harry’s previous legal victory against Mirror Group Newspapers in December 2023, where he became the first British royal in over a century to appear in the witness box. The Mirror Group agreed to pay him legal costs and undisclosed damages in February 2024. 

NGN clarified its position, stating, “Today, our apology to the Duke of Sussex includes an apology for incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun, not by Sun journalists, during the period 1996-2011.” 

The settlement fell short of Harry winning an apology from named senior executives at the company and newspaper during the period of the allegations. However, NGN stated that the agreement “draws a line under the past” and that “strong controls and processes” are now in place at its titles to prevent similar incidents. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the ruling.

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