Prince Harry has achieved a victory in his legal battle against News Group Newspapers, owned by Rupert Murdoch, being the only remaining claimant from a group of over 1,300 who had settled lawsuits against the publisher for privacy invasion, message interception, and other unlawful acts. This case raises questions about the future of Harry's third lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Harry, 40 years old and youngest son of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, has criticized Rebekah Brooks, current CEO of News Group, mentioning that she was the editor of The Sun when they were acquitted in a phone tapping case in 2014. Harry revealed that his older brother, William, Prince of Wales, had settled a private complaint against News Group for over 1 million pounds.
Originally, Harry was part of a group of claimants that included actor Hugh Grant, claiming that their private lives were violated by journalists and investigators from News Group over several years. However, Harry and another claimant, Tom Watson, former Labour Party Member of Parliament, were the only ones to reach trial, where ENGN offered an apology and agreed to pay compensation for damages.
News Group acknowledged having committed unlawful acts at The Sun, a newspaper that had previously vehemently denied such allegations. Harry sought to publicly expose the illegal acts of the newspaper and achieve justice, also obtaining accountability for himself and hundreds of others who were spied on. This settlement represents an important step in repairing his invaded privacy and fighting against media abuses.
Harry, who has been persistent in his fight against privacy invasion and media harassment, sees this victory not only as personal restitution but also as progress in media accountability. His displeasure with the press dates back to his youth, when tabloids focused on every aspect of his life, and this settlement represents a significant step in his battle for privacy and respect for personal boundaries.
