In December, Prince Harry won his phone hacking lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), and today, 115 more claims were settled, with his lawyer telling the court “MGN will pay the Duke of Sussex a substantial additional sum by way of damages and all the costs of his claim.”
David Sherborne, the Duke’s lawyer, read aloud a statement from Prince Harry that said, “After our victory in December, Mirror Group have finally conceded the rest of my claim, which would have consisted of another two trials, additional evidence, and 115 more articles.” He added, “Everything we said was happening at Mirror Group was in fact happening, and indeed far worse as the court ruled in its extremely damning judgement. In light of all this, we call again for the authorities to uphold the rule of law and to prove that no one is above it.”
The statement concluded, “I believe in the positive change it will bring for all of us. It is the very reason why I started this, and why I will continue to see it through to the end.”
At the time of the initial victory in December, Prince Harry said in a statement, “I have 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 is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.” (He has other legal battles ongoing, though he withdrew a libel suit last month.)
Prince Harry did not appear in court today, though he was in the UK this week for a quick trip to visit his father, King Charles, who has just been diagnosed with cancer. Last night, Harry made a surprise appearance in Las Vegas at the annual NFL Honors, presenting the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Next week, he and Meghan Markle are set to travel to Canada for an event celebrating One Year to Go until the 2025 Invictus Games.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
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