Prince Harry gets ‘substantial’ payout in UK tabloid case

Prince Harry has vowed his “mission continues” after he won a legal battle against a British newspaper group.

Prince Harry. Picture: AFP

Prince Harry has been awarded “substantial” additional damages in his claim against Mirror Group Newspapers after the High Court ruled there had “widespread and habitual” use of phone hacking.

At a hearing to determine costs, Prince Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said the publisher had now accepted it would pay “a substantial additional sum” by way of damages in addition to his legal fees.

Prince Harry has had a legal win. Picture: AFP

The agreement reached on Friday local time follows a High Court judge’s ruling in December that phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers was carried out from 1996 to 2011, and was “widespread and habitual” from 1998.

Judge Timothy Fancourt also said that phone hacking continued “to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into media standards in 2011 and 2012, and conceded that the Duke’s phone was hacked” to a modest extent” by MGN – awarding him £140,600 (A$270,000) in damages.

During the costs hearing, Mr Sherborne said the publisher would make an interim payment of £400,000 (A$775,000).

Before the High Court ruling ended the lawyer for Mirror Group Newspapers was granted 14 days to “consider” his Judgement by the judge, adding this may well result in an application being filed to the Court of Appeal.

Prince Harry said his “mission” to take on the British press continued. Picture: Getty Images

In December, Prince Harry won 15 claims in his case against the newspaper group, with the High Court ruling the newspaper group phone hacked.

Thirty-three articles from Prince Harry’s claim were scrutinised during the trial, of which 15 were found to have been the product of unlawful information gathering. A further 115 articles from his claim may become the focus of a future trial.

The prince was not present in court for the costs hearing. He has returned to the US after visiting his father following his cancer diagnosis.

After the settlement was reached an MGN spokesman issued a statement that read: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which gives our business further clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago and for which we have apologised.

“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid compensation.”

Prince Harry also blasted UK broadcaster Piers Morgan claiming the then editor the Daily Mirror in the UK “knew perfectly well” that phones were being hacked.

In a statement read outside the High Court by Mr Sherborne, Prince Harry said: “In light of this, we call again for the authorities to uphold the rule of law and to prove that no one is above it. That includes Mr Morgan, who as editor knew perfectly well what was going on, as the judge held.”

After barely 24 hours in Britain to see his father, Prince Harry returned to the US. Picture: Getty Images

Morgan hit back in a post on X, responding: “I totally agree with Prince Harry that ruthless intrusion into the private lives of the Royal Family for financial gain is utterly reprehensible … and I hope he stops doing it.”

The prince’s case was heard alongside similar claims brought by actor Michael Turner, famous for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and former Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson, and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse.

Claims brought by Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman were dismissed by Mr Justice Fancourt because they were not lodged in time.

Prince Harry said his “mission” over how the press operates continues.
“I believe in the positive change it will bring for all of us. It’s the very reason why I started this, and why I will continue to see it through to the end.”

Originally published as Prince Harry gets ‘substantial’ payout in UK tabloid case