The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, will receive a “substantial” payout from Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) as part of a settlement in his phone hacking case. The publisher will also cover all of Prince Harry’s legal costs, starting with an interim payment of £400,000. In December, the duke was awarded £140,600 in damages after winning 15 claims against MGN. The new settlement relates to 115 additional stories involving unlawful intrusion claims. Prince Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne, stated that MGN will pay the duke a substantial sum in damages and cover all costs.
MGN expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating that it provides clarity to move forward from events that occurred many years ago. The publisher acknowledged historical wrongdoing, apologized unreservedly, and paid compensation. Prince Harry was among several high-profile individuals who brought claims against MGN, accusing the publisher of unlawfully intruding into their private lives for stories. The High Court ruled in December that there was evidence of widespread and habitual phone hacking at MGN.
If a settlement had not been reached, the additional 115 articles in Prince Harry’s claim could have been the subject of a further trial. Mr. Sherborne, reading a statement on behalf of Prince Harry, emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and called for accountability, including for former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan. The statement concluded by stating that Prince Harry’s mission continues and he will see it through to the end.
Other high-profile figures who brought similar claims against MGN include actor Michael Turner, actress Nikki Sanderson, and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse. Some of their complaints were proven, but their claims were dismissed due to being made too late. Mr. Turner was ordered to pay MGN’s costs of responding to his claim, and both Ms. Sanderson and Ms. Wightman were ordered to pay MGN’s legal costs.
Prince Harry, who has been a vocal critic of the tabloid press, did not appear in court on Friday as he had returned to the US after visiting his father, King Charles III, following his cancer diagnosis. He has been involved in several legal battles in recent years, with many still unresolved. These include claims of unlawful information gathering by News Group Newspapers, publisher of the Sun, set for trial in 2025. Last month, he withdrew a libel claim against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday.
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