The Duke of Sussex was awarded £140,600 ($179,000) on Friday after the United Kingdom's High Court ruled he was the victim of historical phone hacking by UK tabloid newspapers.
Back in 2019, Prince Harry sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) - which publishes The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and Sunday People - alongside three other claimants. He alleged its journalists targeted him for a period of roughly 15 years, during which they illegally intercepted his voicemail messages, among other illicit practices.
Justice Timothy Fancourt found that MGN had started hacking phones in 1996 and that the practice was "still extensive" between 2006 and 2011. He determined that 15 stories published by MGN about Prince Harry during that latter period used methods including phone hacking, deceptive "blagging" practices and private investigators to unlawfully gather information.
The case had hinged on 33 published pieces, but the judge ruled "phone hacking was not the only journalistic tool at the time, and his claims in relation to the other 18 articles did not stand up to careful analysis."
Regardless, Harry described Friday's ruling as "vindicating and affirming," while a MGN spokesperson said they apologized "unreservedly," according to PA Media.
Godwin Busuttil, a barrister who specializes in media and communications law, told CNN that Harry "may not have won on all of them but certainly to win to this extent seems to me to be a substantial victory, and certainly the damages are on a very high scale."
Harry didn't return to London for Friday's ruling. His legal team put his absence down to the "short notice" given by the court of its impending judgment. However, the proceedings were a clear victory for the royal and the statement read by his lawyer outside the court indicated this was merely one battle in a wider war against the British tabloid press.
He still has ongoing legal challenges against several other media outlets including Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun newspaper, and The Daily Mail's publishers, Associated Newspapers Limited.
Harry said his commitment to the case stemmed from a belief in the collective need for "a free and honest press," adding that that "anything else is poisoning the well of a profession we all depend on."
He urged the financial regulator, the Metropolitan Police and prosecuting authorities to "do their duty for the British public" and explore criminal charges against the publishing group and those who have broken the law.
The prince concluded by saying: "I've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press -- it's a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues."
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