A UK judge ruled on Friday that Prince Harry was a victim of phone hacking by journalists working for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), and awarded the royal £140,600 ($179,600) in damages. High Court Justice Timothy Fancourt ruled in favor of Harry in 15 of the 33 sample articles that the prince submitted as evidence in his lawsuit against MGN, which publishes the Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People.
Fancourt concluded that the newspapers carried out extensive phone hacking of celebrities between 2006 and 2011, even when a public inquiry into the conduct of the British press was ongoing. He stated that Harry’s personal phone had been targeted between 2003 and 2009 and that the 15 articles were the product of phone hacking… or the product of other unlawful information gathering.
Prince Harry expressed his satisfaction with the ruling in a statement read outside the court by his lawyer, calling it vindicating and affirming. On the other hand, a spokesperson for MGN issued an apology, stating, Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility, and paid appropriate compensation.
This decision comes as part of a series of legal cases brought by Prince Harry against British media, highlighting the rocky relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the press. In the trial, Harry became the first British royal in over a century to take the witness stand. He accused MGN of industrial scale phone hacking and emphasized the distressing media intrusion he has faced throughout his life. The prince holds the media responsible for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, as she was being pursued by paparazzi.
The ruling also sheds light on the practices within the British press, with allegations of phone hacking by tabloid journalists first surfacing two decades ago. The Leveson inquiry into press conduct revealed the havoc wreaked by British newspapers on the lives of innocent people and led to the closure of the News of the World, owned by Rupert Murdoch, in 2011.
Friday’s decision concluded that senior MGN executives had turned a blind eye to phone hacking and blagging, where information is obtained through impersonation. Notably, the ruling raised questions about the involvement of former Mirror editor Piers Morgan, who has consistently denied knowledge of phone hacking, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Prince Harry’s legal action is part of a broader campaign against intrusive media practices, alongside his criticisms of the royal family and the monarchy. In his statement, he emphasized the importance of a free and honest press, emphasizing that the mission continues despite the challenges.
The ruling highlights the need for accountability within the British press and signals a significant victory for Prince Harry in his battle against media intrusion.
