Damages for unlawful information gathering reach an estimated eight figures
Prince Harry’s surprise decision to settle his legal claim against News Group Newspapers (NGN) has sparked widespread speculation about the substantial financial settlement involved. According to royal correspondent Chris Ship, the damages awarded to the Duke of Sussex are reportedly between £10 million and £20 million.
The settlement was reached on Wednesday, a day after the High Court trial was set to begin. Harry’s legal team confirmed that the agreement included an “unequivocal apology” from NGN and “substantial damages” for the unlawful intrusion into his private life.
While the financial payout is significant, Chris Ship noted that money was not Harry’s primary motive. “He wanted The Sun to admit unlawful activity,” Ship wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The publisher’s apology addressed extensive phone hacking, surveillance, and other breaches of privacy, spanning years of media coverage of Harry’s life.
Adding to the controversy, Harry’s legal team alleged that NGN deleted 30 million emails, some after police investigations into their practices had begun. This revelation has further fuelled debates about accountability within the media group.
Harry pursued this case alongside former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson, who also received damages and an apology for the media group’s unwarranted surveillance into his private life.
Although exact figures have not been officially confirmed, the settlement reportedly reaches an “eight-figure” sum, underlining the scale of the legal victory for the Duke of Sussex. This case adds to Harry’s growing list of legal battles with British media, as he continues his campaign for accountability in the face of media intrusion.
