Prince Harry achieved a significant legal victory in his ongoing battle against British tabloids, as London's High Court ruled on Friday that he had been a victim of phone-hacking and other unlawful acts committed by journalists from Mirror Group with the knowledge of their editors.
The judgment marked a milestone for King Charles' younger son, who, in June, became the first senior British royal in 130 years to provide evidence in court. Prince Harry was awarded £140,600 (approximately $180,700) after the judge concurred that journalists employed by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) had targeted him.
The court's finding that editors at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People were aware of the wrongdoing substantiates Prince Harry's claims that senior press figures were complicit in and concealed illicit activities.
In a statement read by his lawyer David Sherborne, Prince Harry, who was not present in court, expressed, "Today is a great day for truth as well as accountability." He emphasized his commitment to the case based on the belief in the collective right to a free and honest press held accountable when necessary. The prince called for authorities to take action against those found to have broken the law.
Since stepping down from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California with his wife Meghan, the Duke of Sussex has dedicated himself to eliminating what he deems "criminals masquerading as journalists" from the British press, particularly targeting senior executives and editors.
The ruling implicated high-profile broadcaster Piers Morgan, who served as Daily Mirror editor from 1996 to 2004, among the editors aware of the "widespread" unlawful behavior. Morgan countered with a statement, asserting that Prince Harry's mission was not press reform but the destruction of the monarchy with Meghan.
The court case involved about 100 claimants, including actors, sports figures, celebrities, and those connected to high-profile individuals, suing MGN over allegations of phone-hacking and unlawful information-gathering between 1991 and 2011.
Judge Timothy Fancourt identified 15 stories resulting from unlawful acts, with Prince Harry's phone being hacked to a "modest extent" between the end of 2003 and April 2009. Aggravated damages were awarded due to the cover-up by senior MGN figures.
Fancourt's judgment criticized the widespread hacking and unlawful activities at MGN, including "blagging," or acquiring information through deception, from 1996 to 2011. The board of the company, owned by Reach, was reportedly kept uninformed by former CEO Sly Bailey and the legal director, who concealed the wrongdoing from directors, parliament, a public inquiry, shareholders, and the High Court in a previous trial.
An MGN spokesperson welcomed the judgment, offering apologies for historical wrongdoing and emphasizing the company's acceptance of responsibility, along with appropriate compensation. Remaining issues and legal costs will be addressed in a hearing next month.
This MGN case is one of four legal actions Prince Harry is pursuing at the High Court. He has secured the right to trial in a similar phone-hacking case against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, involving high-profile figures such as Elton John. Allegations of unlawful behavior by News Corp's News Group Newspapers, publisher of the Sun, will also proceed to trial.
In his statement, Prince Harry acknowledged the challenges faced in pursuing justice but emphasized the importance of striving for a free and honest press. "The mission continues," he declared.
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