PRINCE HARRY SCORES LANDMARK VICTORY AGAINST UK TABLOIDS
In a major triumph, Prince Harry has secured an unprecedented apology from News Group Newspapers, a British tabloid company, and a substantial payment for damages. The company acknowledged the intrusion into Harry’s private life, including the use of phone hacking and private investigators to access confidential information.
The company’s statement of apology, read by Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne, also acknowledged that Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, was among those whose lives were intruded upon. This marks the first time News Group has admitted wrongdoing in relation to The Sun newspaper.
Harry’s victory comes after he vowed to take his case to trial, saying he sought accountability for the wrongdoing and the damage it had caused to relationships and friendships. In a statement, Harry hailed the outcome as a vindication for himself and hundreds of other claimants who were subjected to similar treatment.
News Group acknowledged phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators in its apology. The company also deleted millions of emails and records, with senior executives engaged in a cover-up to obscure the truth.
Prince Harry has a long-standing feud with the British press, which he claims is responsible for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, and the attacks on his wife, Meghan Markle. The litigation has caused tension within the royal family, with Harry revealing that his father and brother, Prince William, did not support his lawsuit.
This outcome may raise questions about the future of Harry’s other lawsuits against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The trial against that company is scheduled for next year.