News Group Newspapers accepted for the first time that unlawful activity had occurred at The Sun and agreed to pay ‘substantial damages’. It also accepted responsibility for hacking former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson’s phone and placing him under surveillance.
The eight-week trial before Mr Justice Fancourt had been due to begin this week.
Kishan Pattni, media lawyer at Freeths, said: ‘This is a colossal victory for the Duke of Sussex, but settlement comes as a surprise to the media law world, because he had publicly indicated that he required the truth and wished to achieve a reckoning against News Group Newspapers at court.
‘Indeed, it was rumoured that he would stand as a witness in the eight-week trial in pursuit of accountability. However, while detailed and potentially embarrassing facts for News Group Newspapers will no longer be aired, the substantial damages and open apology, which is remarkably contrite, will serve as an admission of their historic wrongdoing and provide full vindication for the Duke of Sussex and Lord Watson in the eyes of the public.’
News Group Newspapers stated: ‘NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.
‘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.
‘NGN further apologises 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.’
Jon Oakley, partner and reputation protection lawyer at Simkins, said: ‘This settlement is a complete vindication for the Duke of Sussex.
‘It is the first time in this lengthy saga that News UK has admitted unlawful newsgathering at The Sun. The Sun’s apology is for conduct that spans a full 15 years, from when the Duke was still a young boy to when he was a grown man.
‘The statement read on behalf of The Sun in court indicates the strength of the Duke’s case, and rewards his determination for taking action against a hugely powerful media organisation.’
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