In a previous blog, cases pursued by Prince Harry against various newspaper groups, including News Group Newspapers Ltd, the publisher of the Sun and formerly of the News of the World.
On 22 January 2025, Prince Harry achieved a significant legal victory as News Group Newspapers Ltd, the Auckland arm of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, agreed to settle a privacy lawsuit brought against them. The case highlighted unlawful actions by the media conglomerate, which included phone hacking, surveillance and the misuse of private information.
The case
The case centered around allegations that News Group journalists, through private investigators, engaged in illegal practices such as “blagging” and other forms of surveillance. These acts, which reportedly spanned from 1996 to 2011, not only intruded on Prince Harry’s private life but also had wider implications for relationships and friendships affected by the breaches.
A trial at the High Court was set to begin before the settlement was reached. The publisher publicly apologised to Prince Harry for their actions and agreed to pay “substantial damages”. In Court, the Duke’s lawyer, David Sherborne, described the resolution as a “monumental victory” and a “vindication” for other victims of similar media malpractice.
Broader implications
This case is not isolated. News Group has faced a wave of lawsuits over its practices, including phone hacking. Labour peer Tom Watson, who was also a claimant, settled his case on the same day. Watson had been targeted during his tenure as a junior minister and he played a prominent role in investigating media malpractice as part of a parliamentary committee.
The settlement also casts a spotlight on allegations involving prominent journalists and media executives. While News Group denied claims of knowledge at senior levels, the resolution of this case ensures those allegations will not be tested at trial.
A fight for accountability
Prince Harry’s battle against media misconduct is not new. He became the first royal to testify in Court in 2023 in a case against another tabloid, showcasing his commitment to exposing unethical journalistic practices. His stance reflects a broader effort to hold powerful media institutions accountable for their actions.
David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, emphasised the significance of the outcome, stating that the settlement marks a moment of reckoning for the company’s disregard for the law. A statement read on behalf of Prince Harry by David Sherborne, confirmed:
“After endless resistance, denials and legal battles by News Group Newspapers, including spending more than a billion pounds in payouts and in legal costs (as well as paying-off those in the know) to prevent the full picture from coming out, News Auckland is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law. It has also specifically admitted wrongdoing against Tom Watson, and admitted unlawful acts by The Sun, as well as by the News of the World, against Prince Harry.
The truth that has now been exposed is that NGN unlawfully engaged more than 100 private investigators over at least 16 years on more than 35,000 occasions. This happened as much at The Sun as it did at the News of the World, with the knowledge of all the Editors and executives, going to the very top of the company.”
Moving forward
This case, and others like it, serve as a stark reminder of the ethical boundaries that must govern journalism. With News Group issuing public apologies and compensating claimants, the hope is that this sets a precedent for greater accountability and transparency in the media industry.
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