News Group Newspapers, the British newspaper publisher that owns the tabloid The Sun, has issued an apology to Prince Harry as part of a settlement of the lawsuit the Duke of Sussex filed in 2019.
The publisher and owners of the Sun admitted to using unlawful activities to intrude into his private life between 1996 and 2011. By association, the apology was also extended to Princess Diana, who was the target of phone hacking prior to her 1997 death.
“NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World,” the publisher’s apology read.
“NGN further apologizes to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years.”
The publisher agreed to pay the Duke “substantial damages” in the case, which was expected to go to trial prior to the last-minute settlement agreement.
According to BBC, NGN is expected to pay legal fees for all parties, including Harry, The Sun’s owners, and former lawmaker Lord Tom Watson, whose own accusations of hacking were also part of the trial. The fees reportedly total £10 million, not including damages.
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