The publisher of The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN), has agreed to pay “substantial damages” and issued an apology to the Duke of Sussex, resolving a prolonged legal dispute over claims of unlawful intrusion into his private life.
Prince Harry alleged that journalists and private investigators employed by NGN engaged in unlawful methods to gather information about his personal affairs, with accusations that senior executives subsequently attempted to conceal these activities.
News Group Newspapers (NGN) has formally apologised for the “serious intrusion” committed by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, acknowledging “incidents of unlawful activity” conducted by private investigators hired by the newspaper. The apology, delivered in court, also extended to the distress caused to Prince Harry through the “extensive coverage” and “serious intrusion” into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana.
According to the BBC, the settlements to Prince Harry and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson have cost NGN over £10 million in payouts and legal fees. Cumulatively, NGN has expended more than £1 billion in damages and costs related to claims of phone hacking and privacy violations by The News of the World and The Sun.
Prince Harry alleged that over 200 articles published by NGN between 1996 and 2011 contained information obtained through illegal means. Despite repeatedly expressing his desire for the case to proceed to trial to ensure “accountability” for other alleged victims of unlawful journalistic practices, a resolution was ultimately reached.
A source within NGN told the BBC that the company was “surprised by the serious approach by Prince Harry for settlement in recent days.”
A source close to the Duke of Sussex remarked that the publisher’s apology “provides all the insight you need.”
Speaking on Prince Harry’s behalf outside the court, his barrister, David Sherborne, hailed the settlement as a “monumental victory,” emphasizing that News Group Newspapers (NGN) had been “finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law.”
Lord Tom Watson, who alleged his phone was targeted during his investigation of Rupert Murdoch-owned newspapers while serving as an MP at the height of the phone-hacking scandal nearly 15 years ago, also received an apology from NGN. The publisher acknowledged its intrusion into Lord Watson’s private life, including his being placed under surveillance by journalists and individuals acting on their behalf.
News Group Newspapers (NGN) issued a statement following the settlement, describing it as a measure to “draw a line under the past” and “bring an end to this litigation.”
The publisher asserted that “Lord Watson’s phone was not hacked in 2009-11” and claimed that, had the matter proceeded to trial, it would have presented evidence from telecoms experts to demonstrate that post-2007 hacking was “nigh on impossible” due to enhanced security measures implemented by telecom companies.
The apology included acknowledgment of unlawful activities conducted by private investigators for The Sun between 1996 and 2011 but explicitly stated that such activities did not involve the newspaper’s journalists. The inclusion of The Sun in the apology was reportedly crucial to Prince Harry agreeing to the settlement.
NGN had previously apologized for unlawful practices at the now-defunct News of the World but had consistently denied similar allegations against The Sun, as well as Prince Harry’s broader claims of a corporate-wide cover-up. While NGN admitted no illegality, it conceded that its response to the 2006 arrests of News of the World staff for hacking royal and celebrity phones, as well as its subsequent actions, were “regrettable.”
These earlier arrests included journalist Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who were later jailed for intercepting voicemails belonging to aides of the royal family.
In response to the settlement, Lord Tom Watson expressed relief, stating, “I wish they had left my family alone. Today, I’m glad they have finally accepted responsibility.” He described NGN’s actions as “industrial in scale” and called for Rupert Murdoch to issue a personal apology to Prince Harry and other affected individuals. He further indicated that the legal team would forward a dossier of evidence to the Metropolitan Police.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that there are currently “no active investigations into allegations of phone hacking or related matters.”
By agreeing to a settlement, NGN avoided an eight-week trial that could have examined claims of senior executives obstructing justice by deleting emails and concealing evidence—allegations NGN “strongly denies.”
The settlement between Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers (NGN) has not only concluded a long legal battle but also avoided a high-profile trial that could have brought renewed scrutiny on press intrusion into the royal family and government operations.
Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, expressed his support for Prince Harry’s pursuit of justice. He remarked on X (formerly Twitter), “It’s just wonderful that Harry fought for, and gained, an apology to his mother. She would be incredibly touched at that and rightly proud.”
Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie noted the potential fallout if NGN’s CEO, Rebekah Brooks, had been compelled to testify. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, MacKenzie said, “It would have been massively damaging.” He expressed surprise at the admissions made by NGN in its statement, adding, “There was always going to come a day like this, and Harry’s pursued it. [NGN] are on the back foot and there is probably nothing else they could do.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called it a “significant day” and expressed relief for the claimants. She also commented on the future of press regulation, noting that while a second-stage Leveson inquiry may not be “fit for purpose,” families from the Hacked Off campaign are preparing a briefing on proposed reforms. Nandy emphasized the importance of balancing press freedom with accountability to prevent further harm.
Prince Harry, who was 12 years old when his mother, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris while being pursued by paparazzi, has long suggested that tabloid newspapers played a role in her tragic death. This settlement marks another chapter in his efforts to hold the media accountable for its actions.
Last year, Prince Harry publicly claimed that the tabloid press had been “central” to the deterioration of his relationship with the Royal Family.
In addition to his case against News Group Newspapers, the Duke of Sussex has also settled a separate legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). This case alleged that MGN had unlawfully gathered information about him between 1996 and 2010. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but the allegations mirrored his broader efforts to hold media organizations accountable for privacy violations.#newsafro_
