Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Apologizes and Settles with Prince Harry Over Privacy Breaches

In a significant development, Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper group has apologized to Prince Harry and announced compensation for breaching his privacy. The apology follows claims of serious invasions of Prince Harry’s personal life between 1996 and 2011, involving illegal activities such as phone hacking and surveillance by private investigators working for *The Sun* newspaper.

David Sherborne, the lawyer representing the private newspapers, confirmed that a full and clear apology was issued to the Duke of Sussex for the misconduct during that period. It is the first time the News Group has acknowledged any wrongdoings in *The Sun*. The newspaper group, known for its controversial history including publishing inappropriate images of women, has now admitted to phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators targeting Prince Harry.

This disclosure comes ahead of the commencement of Prince Harry’s legal case against the publishers of *The Sun* and *News of the World* for illegal surveillance, which was scheduled to begin in London’s High Court. The group had previously denied these allegations but has now recognized their involvement in the invasion of Princess Diana’s life, highlighting the breadth of the group’s malpractice.

In the settlement statement, the group expressed regret for the distress caused to the Duke and acknowledged the damage to his relationships, friendships, and family, agreeing to compensate him accordingly. This settlement comes as Prince Harry’s case is nearing its court date, amidst his ongoing legal battle against the newspaper group for unlawful activities that affected his privacy.

The publishers of *The Sun* and *News of the World* had been implicated in a series of high-profile cases related to illegal phone hacking and other breaches, particularly during the period leading up to the 2011 closure of *News of the World* following the revelation of their involvement in hacking the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Prince Harry’s legal actions are part of a broader initiative against the media’s intrusion into royal lives, a fight that began in his youth, with tabloids often reporting intrusive and damaging details about him and his family. He has been outspoken about his belief that the media’s relentless pursuit contributed to the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

The case against the *News Group* marks one of three legal actions Prince Harry has brought against British tabloids for privacy violations, including the unlawful use of private investigators and phone messages. His case against *Daily Mirror* was recently settled in his favor, confirming that phone hacking had been widespread and habitual within the paper.

As Prince Harry moves forward with his legal battles, the outcome of his third case against the *Daily Mail* publisher remains to be seen, with the hearing set to take place next year.