Here's everything we know about The Duke of Sussex's big win against NGN fauxligarch Murdoch and The Sun Newspaper.
Extra, extra, read all about it! Hot off the press, and in a significant turn of events, Prince Harry secured a major victory in his legal battle against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the parent company of The Sun. The settlement marks a pivotal moment in the litigation between the Sussexes and the British tabloid press, with far-reaching implications for both parties.
The settlement indeed marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battles between the Sussexes and the British tabloid press, with both Meghan and Harry achieving significant victories in their pursuit of privacy protection.
Meghan's legal journey began in October 2019 when she sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of The Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, for publishing excerpts of a private letter she wrote to her father.
On February 11, 2021, Justice Mark Warby ruled that ANL had invaded Meghan's privacy by publishing large parts of the letter. The case concluded on January 5, 2022, with Meghan being awarded a symbolic £1 for privacy damages, but a more substantial undisclosed sum for copyright infringement. This ruling set a legal precedent, affirming that individuals cannot exploit someone's privacy in such cases.
The Sussexes took legal action against Splash News and Picture Agency in July 2020 for taking drone photos of their son Archie and Meghan's mother Doria in the backyard of their California home. The lawsuit resulted in Splash UK going into administration (bankruptcy) in March 2021, unable to defend the legal action brought by the couple.
By this time the core principles of f--k around and find out spread like gossip in church when it came to the Sussexes reputation for guarding the privacy of their children.
This outcome sent a clear message to paparazzi agencies about the consequences of invading the privacy of public figures, especially when children are involved.
NGN offered a "full and unequivocal apology" for intrusion into Harry's private life between 1996 and 2011, acknowledging phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information. This settlement was particularly significant as it marked the first time NGN acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun and extended the apology to include intrusion into the life of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.
The resolution brings with it a long-awaited and hard-won apology to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. This acknowledgment of past wrongs serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of media intrusion on the royal family's lives.
Perhaps most striking is the testament this victory bears to Harry's unwavering, deeply moving love for his mother, and the determination to vindicate her, 28 years after the fact. By insisting on clearing Diana's name, nearly three decades after her tragic passing in Paris in1997, Harry has demonstrated a profound commitment to honoring her memory and protecting her legacy.
Prince Harry is truly his mother's son, in all ways and measures.
This legal triumph is not merely a personal vindication for Harry, but a broader statement on the relationship between public figures and the media. It challenges long-standing practices within tabloid journalism - specifically that of UK-based media - and will hopefully usher in a new era of respectable, ethical reporting.
The 11th-hour victory also raises important questions about the balance between public interest and personal privacy, and how they're navigated in an increasingly digital age.
Prince Harry's victory against Murdoch's NGN group is a powerful statement about the importance of standing up for yourself, fighting for what's right, and the ultimate confirmation of Princess Diana's legacy.
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