Prince Harry today accepted a ‘substantial’ payout from the publisher of The Sun, which expressed regret to him and his mother, Princess Diana, for intruding on their private lives.
News Group Newspapers (NGN) issued an “unconditional apology” to the Duke of Sussex for using private investigators to spy on him.
A source quoted by Reuters said Harry’s damages amounted to more than £10 million.
In a dramatic end to Harry’s long legal battle, the publisher admitted that private investigators employed by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 had used unlawful methods to obtain information about him.
A statement read out in open court said that NGN “apologizes to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive reporting and serious intrusion into his private life, as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother , especially during his younger years.’
Outside the High Court, barrister David Sherborne said ‘this historic admission of guilt’ had only come about ‘through the sheer resilience of Prince Harry’.
Mr Sherborne said: “Today the lies are being exposed. Today the cover-up is being exposed. And today proves that no one is above the law. The time for accountability has come.”
Harry had previously vowed not to settle the six-year case out of court, insisting he was “the last person” who could engineer a courtroom showdown with the newspaper group.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on March 30, 2023

David Sherborne makes a statement while standing next to Tom Watson
But after repeatedly rejecting offers of peace saying the trial would eventually start at 10.30am, his lawyer David Sherborne told the court: ‘I am pleased to inform the court that the parties have reached an agreement.’
It is the first time that NGN, which has always denied the claims, has admitted unlawful activity in connection with The Sun.
The company has not admitted to executive misconduct or phone hacking at The Sun. It apologized for phone hacking at the now defunct News of the World.
Lord Tom Watson, former Labor deputy leader, also took legal action against the publisher and also settled his claim.
The News Group Newspapers reports this: ‘NGN offers the Duke of Sussex a full and unequivocal apology for The Sun’s serious intrusion into his private life between 1996 and 2011, including incidents of unlawful activity carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.
‘NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.
‘NGN further apologizes to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive reporting and serious intrusion into his private life and into the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, particularly during his younger years.
‘We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the Duke and the damage caused to relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him significant compensation.

Lord Watson later made his own personal statement outside court
‘It is also recognised, without any admission of illegality, that NGN’s response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were deplorable.
‘NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion into his private life during his time in government by the News of the World in the period 2009-2011.
‘This includes being placed under surveillance in 2009 by News of the World journalists and those instructed by them.
‘NGN also acknowledges and apologizes for the negative impact this has had on Lord Watson’s family and has agreed to pay him significant compensation.
‘In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information from News International was being secretly passed to Lord Watson. We now understand that this information was incorrect and that Lord Watson did not receive such confidential information. NGN fully and unequivocally apologizes for this.”
After the settlement was announced, Mr. Fancourt addressed the press and public gathered in the court where the trial was to take place, those in an overspill court, and a large number of members of the media who had joined remotely . .
He said, “I’m sorry you waited yesterday expecting the trial to begin.
“I’m sorry that it was probably unclear to some of you for some time yesterday what was going on.”

Lord Watson and Mr Sherborne outside court after today’s settlement
He added that “these things happen in court cases” and that there is a limit to what can be said in circumstances where parties are close to a settlement.
Mr Justice Fancourt said the agreement would include terms of the settlement, some of which he would set out in the court order and others which would remain confidential.
He also said that as a result of the settlement, the issues in this case were not adjudicated, adding that it would be “difficult to imagine” other plaintiffs taking them to court.
Mr Fancourt added that it was ‘regrettable’ that the agreement was only reached at a very late stage as enormous resources had been spent preparing for the trial, but that it was the prerogative of the parties to reach a settlement to come.