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Prince Harry’s years-long legal battle against media magnate Rupert Murdoch has ended.
And the Duke of Sussex has scored a win that could forever change the way tabloids do business around the world.
In 2019, Harry filed a lawsuit against the newspaper’s owners, Murdoch’s News Group Sun and now-inactive world news,
The lawsuit alleged that the papers had hacked Harry’s private devices and hired private investigators to engage in “unlawful” information gathering operations.
Harry’s big win
Now, in a move that has stunned industry experts, NGN has settled out of court, and issued a “substantial” payment and public apology to Harry and his loved ones.
According to CNN, Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne released a statement today revealing that NGN “offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for his serious intrusion.” Sun Between 1996 and 2011, incidents of illegal activities were reported by private investigators working in his private life. Sun,
Sherborne further said that NGN specifically apologized “for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and the private investigators they directed.” world news,
According to CNN, Sherbourne revealed that NGN also apologized for “intruding” into the life of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.
The group also took responsibility for the “damage caused to relationships, friendships and family” and “has agreed to pay him substantial damages.”
The trial was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, but lawyers for both sides requested more time to reach a settlement.
No exact figure for the settlement has been revealed, but CNN reports that the deal “involved an eight-figure sum” and noted that “a source involved in the matter did not deny the figure when asked.”
NGN has already settled 1,300 other claims related to voicemail interception, paying an estimated $1.2 billion in the process.
Harry has long been a crusader against irresponsible and highly aggressive tabloid journalism.
Although we’re sure today’s cash settlement is a nice bonus, Harry is probably most proud of apologizing to his mother, who was killed while fleeing paparazzi in 1997.
Sadly, Harry will continue to fear for his family’s safety until certain intrusive tabloid techniques are outlawed. But at least today’s agreement sends the message that some practices will no longer be tolerated.