After years of legal battles and public scrutiny, Prince Harry has reached a significant victory in his fight against press misconduct. Reports confirm the Duke of Sussex has secured a settlement reportedly worth over $12 million from Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN)—the publisher behind British tabloids The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

This resolution came just before a long-anticipated trial was set to begin in London. Although NGN had previously denied the allegations, the publisher has now issued what Harry’s legal team calls a “full and unequivocal apology” for unlawfully intruding into the prince’s personal life and that of his late mother, Princess Diana.

The Heart of the Case: Privacy Violations & Phone Hacking

At the center of the lawsuit were accusations that journalists and private investigators—working on behalf of NGN—engaged in illicit practices like phone hacking and surveillance over a 15-year period. These actions, Prince Harry argued, were not just violations of his privacy but part of a systemic problem within certain parts of the British media.

Harry filed the suit alongside former MP Tom Watson, and while many expected a highly public trial, the surprise settlement shifts the focus to the impact of the case.

“Today the Lies Are Laid Bare”

Speaking outside London’s High Court, Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne characterized the outcome as a “monumental victory” that forced accountability on a powerful media empire.