Prince Harry has claimed a “monumental victory” following a historic legal settlement with Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloids, which included a full apology and substantial damages for unlawful invasion of his privacy.

The agreement reached on January 22, 2025, comes after prolonged legal struggles, where the Duke of Sussex alleged he was subject to illegal activities, including phone hacking, by News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, from 1996 to 2011.

In a statement delivered in court, NGN offered a “full and unequivocal apology”, recognizing the “serious intrusion” into his private life, particularly affecting his late mother, Princess Diana. Harry's solicitor, David Sherborne, emphasized the significance of the acknowledgment, stating, “Today the lies are laid bare. Today, the cover-ups are exposed.”

Harry's settlement is part of a larger context where more than 1,300 claims against NGN have been settled, reportedly costing the company over £1 billion in payouts and legal fees since the initial hacking scandal came to light.

Reports indicate that Harry is set to receive damages exceeding £10 million as part of this agreement, marking a pivotal change in NGN's approach towards accountability, especially compared to its previous denials regarding wrongdoing at The Sun. They had consistently rejected allegations of unlawful activity until this admission.

Harry, alongside former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who also settled his claims, indicated that the outcome signifies a win not just for him, but for the multitude of others who have faced similar invasions without the means to pursue justice.

Moreover, the settlement underscored the complicated dynamics of royal family interactions with the press, where Harry's previous insistence on accountability contrasted with the financial pressures that often lead claimants to opt for settlements.

In court documents, Harry had voiced his mission for accountability, echoing sentiments shared in his Netflix documentary, where he exposed the detrimental impacts of media scrutiny on his life.

The long-standing conflicts between British tabloids and public figures, exemplified in this case, continue to highlight critical questions surrounding ethics in journalism and the legal frameworks governing privacy and conduct within the media industry. News Group has expressed that this resolution "draws a line under the past," although many observers remain skeptical about the future accountability of media practices.

For more detailed coverage, see the original articles by BBC, Al Jazeera, and LA Times.