Prince Harry secured what he called a “monumental victory” over the publisher of The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN), after a settlement was reached to prevent the case from going to trial.
The Duke of Sussex and Lord Tom Watson pushed NGN further than anyone had done before and were prepared to take on the media group in an eight-week trial.
Harry and the former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, who were both represented by David Sherborne, released a lengthy joint statement labelling the unequivocal apologies they received from NGN as “a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling, without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them”.
This sentiment is echoed throughout the statement and reflected the Duke of Sussex’s desire to continue his legal action until he achieved key admissions from the publisher of The Sun.
Prince Harry secured what he called a “monumental victory” over the publisher of The Sun.
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Prince Harry would have been liable for a bill worth millions at the end of the trial, whether he had won or lost, had it gone ahead.
In the UK, if a claimant turns down an offer of settlement and is later awarded less in damages by a judge, they have to pay the legal costs of both sides.
The Duke of Sussex’s barrister stated that it was the royal and Lord Watson’s refusal to settle right up until days, if not hours, before the trial was due to start that allowed them to obtain admissions from News Group Newspaper.
Sherborne said: “It has only been by taking NGN – not just to the steps of court but inside the courtroom itself – that these Claimants have finally managed to extract this historic admission of guilt.
Prince Harry would have been liable for a bill worth millions at the end of the trial, whether he had won or lost, had it gone ahead.
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Regarding NGN’s admissions, a source from Prince Harry’s team said: “The apology provides all the insight you need”.
The Sun’s apology refers to the unlawful activities of private investigators working for the newspaper from 1996 to 2011.
Another theme that is clear from Harry’s statement is that the coverage of his immediate family has been a source of motivation for the royal in his fight against the media group.
The Duke of Sussex secured an apology from News Group Newspapers for serious intrusion into Princess Diana’s private life, as well as his own.
The Duke of Sussex secured an apology from News Group Newspapers for serious intrusion into Princess Diana’s private life, as well as his own.
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In a statement issued by NGN, they apologised to Harry for “serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years”.
Prince Harry also hit out at the “aggressive and vengeful coverage” of his immediate family following his decision to launch his claim against The Sun over half a decade ago.
This appears to reference coverage of Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, since the couple stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020.
Prince Harry also hit out at the “aggressive and vengeful coverage” of his immediate family following his decision to launch his claim against The Sun over half a decade ago.
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As the beginning of the trial was postponed, lawyers from both sides cited “time differences” as a reason for requesting the delays throughout Tuesday, with crunch talks edging closer to a breakthrough.
The trial was originally scheduled to start at 10am on Tuesday, but just over 24 hours later, the settlement was announced.
During that time, a relaxed-looking Prince Harry was pictured smiling in California alongside members of the Salinas Fire Department.
The Duke of Sussex appeared to be confident of walking away with another victory in his court case battles with the British tabloid media, and this time, he achieved it without setting foot in the UK.
