Prince Harry Settles Invasion Of Privacy Suit Against UK Outlet, Publisher Issues Apology

Prince Harry has settled his invasion of privacy suit against the United Kingdom-based publisher of “The Sun,” with the company issuing the royal a “full and unequivocal” apology, along with “substantial damages.”

One day after the Duke of Sussex’s phone-hacking lawsuit finally was to be heard in the High Court of London, News Group Newspapers settled with the royal, acknowledged the intrusion into his life by “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” for The Sun and now defunct News of the World,  the Associated Press reported. 

“NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun,” the apology read, per The Hollywood Reporter.

“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,” it added, while referencing that the group had also invaded the privacy of the late Princess Diana.

“NGN further apologizes to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years,” the statement continued. “We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the Duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages.”

And those “substantial damages” reportedly include more than $12 million to Prince Harry as part of the settlement, People magazine reported.

Outside of court, Harry’s attorney David Sherborne pointed out that “NGN had strongly denied those allegations before trial” and said this settlement “represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them.”

NGN later clarified its statement and told People that, “Today, our apology to the Duke of Sussex includes an apology for incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun, not by journalists, during the period 1996-2011.”

Related: Prince Harry Case Against U.K. Publisher Thrown Out, Judge Slams Phone-Hacking Claim

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