Settlement Reached in Wiretapping Scandal Involving Prince Harry and Sun Publisher

Prince Harry has reached a settlement with the publisher of the Sun, resulting in a public apology and significant financial compensation for illegal eavesdropping practices. The media group acknowledged the distress caused, particularly concerning his late mother, Princess Diana. Although the settlement marks a victory for Harry, it does not address any wrongdoing by the journalists involved. He continues to pursue legal action against the Daily Mail, with further trials anticipated.

Prince Harry Reaches Settlement with Tabloid Publisher

Prince Harry has successfully settled his case against the publisher of the British tabloid, the Sun, concerning allegations of illegal research practices. This resolution includes a public apology and a significant financial compensation.

Details of the Settlement

Rupert Murdoch’s media group has publicly apologized to Prince Harry for the alleged illegal eavesdropping methods used by the Sun, which included the interception of voicemails. The settlement was announced just before the second day of the trial commenced.

Harry, alongside co-plaintiff and former Labour politician Tom Watson, accused the Sun’s journalists of engaging in unlawful spying activities. David Sherborne, Harry’s attorney, confirmed that the News Group Newspapers issued a ‘full and unequivocal apology’ for their actions, marking the first acknowledgment of wrongdoing from the company regarding the Sun.

Furthermore, the settlement entails a ‘substantial compensation’ for Prince Harry. Despite this, the apology is limited to the actions of private detectives and does not extend to any wrongdoing by the journalists themselves. The News Group has denied any knowledge of the illegal activities and refuted claims that the Sun intercepted Harry’s phone communications, asserting that this settlement ‘draws a line under the past.’

Additionally, the News Group expressed remorse for the distress caused to Prince Harry, particularly regarding the impact on his late mother, Princess Diana, who tragically passed away in 1997. The statement acknowledged the hurt caused to the Duke and offered a full apology.

Prince Harry’s legal pursuits against the media company Mirror Group Newspapers have also seen partial success. This settlement allows the publisher to evade a rigorous court examination concerning the involvement of Sun employees in illegal activities and the extent of executive awareness of such practices.

Harry, along with other plaintiffs including high-profile personalities like Hugh Grant and Melanie Chisholm, had previously not settled with the media company, with allegations dating back to incidents from 1996 to 2011. Last December, Harry expressed his determination to bring these issues to trial to expose the alleged misconduct of the publication on behalf of others affected.

Following the settlement, Harry’s lawyer hailed the outcome as a ‘monumental victory’ and called for further investigations by law enforcement and Parliament. The trial’s commencement was initially delayed due to ongoing settlement discussions, highlighting the significance of this legal battle for privacy rights.

While Harry has achieved a victory against the Sun, he continues to pursue further legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail, which is scheduled to begin next year. The future of this case remains uncertain following the recent settlement.

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