Prince Harry’s Privacy Trial Against The Sun Threatened by Eleventh-Hour Settlement Offer
The trial between Prince Harry and the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid newspaper, The Sun, is in jeopardy after an eleventh-hour offer to settle was reported. The Duke of Sussex and former UK lawmaker Tom Watson are suing the newspaper’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), over allegations that journalists broke the law to obtain stories.
The trial was set to begin at 10:30 a.m. UK time, but the legal teams requested an hour’s delay and later asked for even more time to negotiate an “outcome.” The delay has fuelled speculation that a settlement could be imminent.
NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik reported that a massive offer had been made by Murdoch’s camp to resolve the hacking suits from Prince Harry and Tom Watson, according to a person with knowledge.
The legal teams have until 2 p.m. UK time to thrash out a deal, after which the trial will begin. If no agreement is reached, Prince Harry’s reputation and finances will be at stake. A loss could result in him having to pay costs, which would likely exceed his potential payout.
The trial is a grudge match for the duke, who blames journalists for his past relationship problems and the pressure on his marriage to Meghan Markle. He has also accused NGN of being “criminals, not journalists” over their alleged involvement in phone hacking and other unethical practices.