LONDON, The United Kingdom — Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex has reached a last-minute settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN) over his high court legal action, resolving claims related to phone hacking, surveillance, and the misuse of private information.
The publisher of The Sun and the defunct News of the World issued an apology and agreed to pay substantial damages.
The resolution was announced on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, by Prince Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne, during a brief hearing.
“I am pleased to announce to the court that the parties have reached an agreement. As a result of the parties reaching an agreement, I would ask formally that the trial is vacated,” Sherborne stated.
In a statement read to the court, NGN offered “a full and unequivocal apology” to Prince Harry for the unlawful activities carried out by its journalists and private investigators between 1996 and 2011.
The publisher acknowledged the serious intrusion into the duke’s private life and its impact, including the coverage of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, during his younger years.
“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,” Sherborne read.
The publisher also expressed regret over its handling of allegations of misconduct in the mid-2000s, noting, “It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN’s response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.”
The settlement follows protracted legal proceedings involving several high-profile claimants against NGN.
Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson also settled his claim, while other prominent figures, including actor Hugh Grant, resolved cases in recent years.
The legal challenges have highlighted the financial and reputational costs of pursuing cases against media organisations.
In April, the high court heard that Grant had settled his case due to the potential £10 million legal bill he could face if it proceeded to trial.
Prince Harry’s decision to settle comes amid a series of broader efforts to hold publishers accountable for alleged invasions of privacy.
Between July and December last year, 39 individuals reached settlements with NGN, further exposing the scale of the phone-hacking scandal.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Mr Justice Fancourt refused NGN’s repeated requests for a delay to allow further settlement discussions.
He noted that both parties had had “ample time to seek to resolve their differences.”
However, following a brief break, lawyers for both sides pursued an appeal against the judge’s refusal, leading to an adjournment.
The conclusion of the Duke of Sussex’s case underscores the lingering fallout from the phone-hacking scandal that has roiled the British media industry and intensified scrutiny of press ethics.
