In a landmark moment for the British media landscape, Prince Harry has emerged victorious in his grueling six-year legal battle against the publisher of The Sun newspaper. The Duke of Sussex, along with his co-claimant Tom Watson, hailed the settlement as a “monumental victory” that proves no one, not even the mighty Murdoch empire, is above the law.
A Historic Admission of Guilt
The heart of the settlement lies in the unprecedented apology issued by News Group Newspapers (NGN), the Murdoch-owned publisher of The Sun. In a court statement, NGN offered a “full and unequivocal apology” to Prince Harry for the tabloid’s intrusions into his private life between 1996 and 2011. But it was the admission that followed which sent shockwaves through Fleet Street:
NGN acknowledged that these intrusions included incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.
This marks the first time NGN has publicly admitted to illegal practices at The Sun, shattering the publisher’s long-held insistence that such activities were confined to the now-defunct News of the World. It’s a staggering reversal for a company that has settled over 1,300 hacking claims at an estimated cost of £1 billion, while steadfastly denying any wrongdoing at its flagship tabloid.
The Price of Privacy
Though the exact settlement figure remains undisclosed, sources suggest Prince Harry may have received upwards of £10 million. However, for the Duke, this fight was never about the money. As he stated last year, his primary motivation was accountability:
One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I’m the last person that can actually achieve that.
In that respect, the settlement is a resounding success. NGN’s admission, even without any acknowledgment of illegality, is a powerful vindication of Prince Harry’s claims and a damning indictment of the tabloid’s past conduct.
Unanswered Questions
Yet for all the significance of this settlement, it leaves several crucial questions unresolved. The tantalizing prospect of Prince Harry confronting NGN executives in the witness box has evaporated, as has the opportunity to examine allegations of evidence destruction and false denials by senior figures like Rebekah Brooks and Will Lewis.
Furthermore, NGN’s carefully worded apology stopped short of admitting any illegality, merely acknowledging that its past actions were “regrettable”. The publisher’s subsequent statement struck a defiant tone, insisting that “no admission or apology has been made” in relation to the obstruction claims.
A Princely Precedent
Despite these lingering ambiguities, the significance of Prince Harry’s victory cannot be overstated. In standing up to one of the world’s most powerful media conglomerates, he has set a remarkable precedent and thrown down the gauntlet to other public figures who have seen their privacy shredded by the tabloids.
As the Duke himself put it, this settlement proves that “the cover-ups are exposed” and “the lies are laid bare”. It’s a powerful warning to the press that even the deepest pockets and fiercest reputations provide no immunity from accountability.
The Final Chapter?
So is this the end of the phone-hacking saga? NGN certainly hopes so, stressing that the settlement “draws a line under the past and brings an end to this litigation”. But given the number of unanswered questions and the glacial pace of cultural change within some sections of the British press, that may prove an optimistic prediction.
One thing, however, is certain. In taking on the might of Murdoch and emerging victorious, Prince Harry has not only vindicated his own claims but struck a blow for privacy rights that will reverberate far beyond the privileged confines of the royal family. It is, as he and Watson rightly stated, a “monumental victory” for justice and accountability. The final chapter of this tawdry tale may not yet be written – but today, at least, the force seems to be with the Duke of Sussex.
