Prince Harry must be breathing the most bittersweet sigh of … relief? Satisfaction? Validation? It’s hard to say how exactly he’s feeling after his latest legal win, but we’re certainly glad he secured a slice of justice for his late mom Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex has been fighting to hold U.K. tabloids accountable for their “unlawful” coverage of him and his mother for five years now. And yesterday, the Duke of Sussex (finally!) settled a case against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN).
The publisher issued a “full and unequivocal apology” and “substantial damages” (which People believes is upwards of $12 million) for having private investigators hired by The Sun hack his phone and invade his privacy.
“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,” a statement said, per Hello!
“Serious intrusion” may be an understatement, considering Prince Harry has lamented publicly about the relentless scrutiny his family was under. “Paparazzi used to harass [myself, my brother, and my cousins] to the point of where we had to be forced into smiling and answering questions to the traveling press pack,” he said in the first episode of his docuseries, Harry and Meghan. “And that made me feel really uncomfortable from the get-go.” Also in the documentary was paparazzi footage of Princess Diana literally pleading to be left alone.
“Please leave,” she begged as she tried to cover the photographer’s lens. “As a parent, could I ask you to respect my children’s space? I brought the children out here for a holiday and we’d really appreciate the space.”
Prince Harry — who shares kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with wife Meghan Markle — issued a lengthy statement after the ruling.
“In a monumental victory today, News UK have admitted that The Sun, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch’s UK media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices,” Prince Harry’s lawyer said on his behalf. “This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling, without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them. After endless resistance, denials and legal battles by News Group Newspapers, including spending more than a billion pounds in payouts and in legal costs, as well as paying off those in the know to prevent the full picture from coming out, News UK is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law.”
Given the relentless hounding by the media and the role the press ultimately played in Princess Diana’s tragic and untimely death, the acknowledgment and apology can seem validating but trivial. No apology — no matter how “full and unequivocal” — can change the past. No settlement can bring “the People’s Princess” back. However, we hope this display of accountability can bring some comfort to the royal family and to others who have been impacted by the tabloids’ behavior.
Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer is certainly impressed with his nephew’s actions. “It takes an enormous amount of guts to take on major media organizations like this, and incredible tenacity to win against them,” the Earl said. “It’s wonderful that Harry also secured an apology for his mother — she would be immensely touched by this, I’m sure, and also rightly proud.”
“Well done indeed,” he concluded.
Before you go, check out these precious photos that prove Princess Diana’s commitment to motherhood over the monarchy.
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