LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry’s legal battle against The Sun concluded dramatically on Wednesday with an apology from the newspaper’s publisher for “serious intrusion” and unlawful activities spanning 15 years. The settlement reached includes a significant damages payment to Harry and marks the latest development in the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the aggressive tactics of the British press during the era when newspapers held immense influence over public discourse.
The scandal led to the demise of a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch and resulted in substantial financial losses for the media mogul due to settlements with individuals targeted by tabloid scrutiny. This controversy further fueled Harry’s campaign to reform the British media, which he accuses of creating rifts within his family, tarnishing his life, and relentlessly pursuing both his late mother Princess Diana and his wife, Meghan Markle.
Key moments in this saga include:
– November 2005: The News of the World, a publication under Murdoch’s ownership, publishes a report about Prince William’s knee injury, triggering a police investigation revealing that the information was obtained through phone hacking.
– January 2007: Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is sentenced to six months in prison, and the News of the World’s royal editor Clive Goodman receives a four-month sentence for hacking the phones of royal aides, including accessing voicemails left for Prince William and his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton.
– January 2011: British authorities reopen an inquiry into tabloid phone hacking following the discovery of new evidence by the News of the World.
– April 2011: The News of the World admits to phone hacking and settles a lawsuit with actress Sienna Miller, paving the way for additional settlements with numerous public figures targeted by the publication.
– July 2011: The Guardian reveals that journalists from the News of the World hacked the phone of Milly Dowler, a murdered teenager, causing widespread outrage and leading to the newspaper’s closure.
– November 2012: A government-led inquiry into media ethics condemns the press for unethical practices, calling for a robust regulatory body to oversee journalistic standards.
– October 2013: Former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks face trial for phone hacking and bribery charges, with Coulson receiving a prison sentence while Brooks is acquitted.
– December 2015: The chief prosecutor announces that no further criminal cases will be pursued against Murdoch’s British media outlets or their employees.
These events underscore the enduring impact of the phone hacking scandal on the British media landscape and highlight the ongoing efforts to address ethical lapses within the industry.
In a saga that has captivated the public’s attention, Prince Harry has been at the forefront of a legal battle against several prominent newspaper groups, unveiling a web of alleged underhanded tactics employed by the media to invade his privacy. The intricate legal showdown, stretching from 2019 to present day, has shed light on the murky world of tabloid journalism and raised questions about the limits of press freedom.
The journey began with Prince Harry launching lawsuits against three major newspaper conglomerates: Murdoch’s News Group, the Mirror Group, and Associated Newspapers. The Duke of Sussex asserted that these media giants had crossed ethical boundaries by obtaining and publishing sensitive information about his personal life through illicit means such as hacking, bugging, and deception. His legal crusade brought to the forefront the issue of media intrusion into the private lives of public figures, sparking a heated debate on the responsibilities of the press.
One of the pivotal moments in this legal saga came in February 2021 when Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, emerged victorious in a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers. The court ruled in her favor in an invasion of privacy case related to the publication of a heartfelt letter she had penned to her estranged father in 2018. The ruling served as a resounding affirmation of the couple’s unwavering stance against media intrusion and set a precedent for holding media outlets accountable for breaches of privacy.
As the legal battles unfolded, Prince Harry found himself at the center of a high-profile trial against the Mirror Group in June 2023. Making history as the first British royal in over a century to take the witness stand, Harry detailed the alleged misconduct of Mirror newspapers, accusing them of engaging in illegal phone hacking and employing private investigators to delve into his personal affairs. The court’s ruling in December 2023, in favor of Prince Harry, marked a significant milestone in his fight for justice, with the judge condemning the Mirror Group’s actions and awarding damages to the Duke of Sussex.
The legal showdown continued into February 2024 when the Mirror Group opted to settle with Prince Harry, agreeing to cover his legal costs and provide undisclosed damages. The resolution of the case was hailed as a victory for Harry, who expressed his vindication and unwavering commitment to upholding accountability in the media industry. The Mirror Group’s decision to settle underscored the gravity of the allegations leveled against them and served as a cautionary tale for media organizations regarding the repercussions of unethical practices.
Fast forward to January 2025, and the legal drama reached its climax with the impending trial against The Sun, a publication owned by News Group Newspapers. Prince Harry, along with former Labour Party lawmaker Tom Watson, stood as the remaining claimants in a sea of settlements, poised to confront the tabloid over alleged intrusions into their private lives. However, a last-minute settlement was reached, with News Group Newspapers issuing a formal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the breaches of privacy committed by The Sun between 1996
