Prince Harry is currently involved in a legal battle against the publisher of The Sun, which commenced on January 21, 2025. This trial marks the culmination of over two decades of scrutiny concerning the British press's unethical practices, particularly during the era when tabloids wielded significant influence over public discourse. Notably, Rupert Murdoch's newspapers have faced extensive repercussions due to these scandals, including the closure of the long-running News of the World and costly settlements amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars for various legal claims from numerous prominent figures.
The origins of the scandal can be traced back to November 2005 when the News of the World reported on Prince William's knee injury. This incident led to a police investigation revealing that the information had been obtained through voicemail hacking. The fallout continued into January 2007, when Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator employed by the News of the World, was sentenced to six months in prison for his role in hacking the phones of royal aides. Clive Goodman, the royal editor of the newspaper, received a four-month sentence for similar offenses, having acknowledged hacking Prince William's phone multiple times, including over 150 instances related to Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales.
Initially, Murdoch's company attempted to downplay the situation, claiming that these illicit activities were the work of a few rogue employees. However, the narrative shifted dramatically in January 2011 when British police announced the reopening of investigations into phone hacking, fueled by new information surfaced by the News of the World itself.
By April 2011, the News of the World publicly accepted liability for its hacking practices, subsequently reaching a financial settlement of £100,000 with actress Sienna Miller. This legal acknowledgment prompted a wave of settlements from Murdoch's News Corp. for various claims from celebrities, politicians, and others, although the company has not accepted liability relating to The Sun.
The scandal escalated further in July 2011 when it was revealed that journalists from the News of the World had hacked the phone of Milly Dowler, a murdered 13-year-old. This revelation caused public outrage and led to the newspaper's closure after 168 years of publication.
A media ethics inquiry, established after public outcry and led by Justice Brian Leveson in November 2012, characterized the press's behavior as "outrageous," wreaking havoc on the lives of innocent individuals. The inquiry recommended the establishment of a robust press watchdog, a suggestion that has been only partly realized since then.
In October 2013, significant individuals, including former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, faced trial, with Coulson being convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Brooks was acquitted and currently holds the position of CEO of Murdoch's British newspaper enterprise.
Fast-forwarding to 2019, Prince Harry initiated legal actions against three prominent newspaper groups: News Group, Mirror Group, and Associated Newspapers. He accused these entities of unlawfully obtaining information regarding various aspects of his life through hacking and other illegal means.
In February 2021, Harry's wife Meghan Markle attained a victory in a privacy invasion lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, concerning the publication of a letter she wrote to her estranged father in 2018.
As the saga continued, June 2023 saw Prince Harry providing testimony in his case against the Mirror Group, becoming the first British royal to do so in over a century. The following December, Harry won his case against the Mirror Group when a judge ruled in his favor, confirming that the newspaper had engaged in illegal phone hacking practices for an extended period, resulting in an award of £140,000 in damages alongside legal costs.
Looking ahead to February 2024, the Mirror Group agreed to settle outstanding claims with Harry, providing undisclosed damages as well as covering legal costs. Harry expressed feeling vindicated and reaffirmed his commitment to his ongoing mission against such unethical practices. The upcoming trial against The Sun remains a significant hallmark in this ongoing conflict, as Harry is expected to testify in person during this ten-week legal proceeding.
