Great Britain
Agreement in the wiretapping scandal: “Sun” apologizes to Harry
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Surprise in the proceedings regarding illegal research methods. Prince Harry actually wanted to drag the “Sun” to court. Nothing will come of it now. His lawyer still speaks of a “monumental victory.”
Prince Harry (40) has agreed to a settlement with the publisher of the British tabloid “Sun” in the trial over illegal research methods. Both sides announced this before the start of the second day of the trial.
The younger son of King Charles III. (76) and his co-plaintiff, ex-Labour politician Tom Watson, accused the Sun journalists of spying on them, including by listening to voice messages and other illegal research methods. The publisher has now apologized to both, but without admitting the direct involvement of “Sun” journalists.
Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne described the publisher’s statement as a “monumental victory” for Prince Harry and Watson. The Sun was run as a “criminal enterprise,” he said. His clients are now demanding investigations by the police and parliament, said Sherborne.
Harry receives substantial compensation
The last-minute agreement is a big surprise. Harry had announced that he would carry out the procedure on behalf of other people affected and bring the paper’s alleged machinations to light. He even wanted to take the witness stand himself. That’s not the case now. But Harry will receive “substantial compensation,” according to a statement from publisher NGN (News Group Newspapers).
The publisher also apologized in a statement “fully and unreservedly” for “serious violations of his private life, including illegal practices committed by private investigators working for The Sun.”
Illegal methods were common
US media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s publishing house is now avoiding a detailed examination in court as to whether and to what extent employees of the “Sun” were involved in illegal activities and whether such practices were known in the executive suite.
This covers the period between 1996 and 2011. It is undisputed that illegal methods such as listening to voice messages were widespread in some British newspapers at the time. So far, however, the publisher has always managed to avert lawsuits by making payments in advance.
Harry also reaches out to apologize to Diana
In 2011, the wiretapping scandal reached its peak. The weekly newspaper “News of the World”, which belongs to NGN, was discontinued as a result. The publisher has now admitted that Prince Harry’s phone was tapped on their behalf.
It may also be significant for the fifth in line to the British throne that the publisher had to expressly apologize for the impact of research and reporting on his mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997.
Big financial risk
Actor Hugh Grant (64) and others who initially joined the lawsuit had already accepted an offer from the publisher NGN (News Group Newspapers) in advance. Grant cited financial risk as the reason for this. According to his own statements, he was threatened with costs of ten million pounds (currently around 11.8 million euros).
In the UK, even if plaintiffs win in court, they will still have to pay legal costs if they are awarded a lower sum than was previously offered in a settlement.
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne (57), former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm (51) and many others initially joined the lawsuit. However, they also reached an out-of-court agreement with NGN.
Harry is leading a real crusade
Prince Harry actually consciously wanted to take the risk. The royal is leading a real crusade against the “tabloid press”, as the tabloid press is called in Great Britain. He wants to show that the methods were systematic.
“No one is better suited to pull this off than me,” he once said in the documentary “Tabloids on Trial” on the British TV channel ITV. He fought it out on behalf of everyone, the royal said at the time.
In an earlier case against the publisher of the tabloid Daily Mirror, Harry was largely right. Another case against the publisher of the “Daily Mail” is pending.
What drives Prince Harry?
Harry has repeatedly made it clear that he blames the accidental death of his mother Princess Diana in Paris in 1997 on the paparazzi who were on her and her companions’ trail at the time. He indicated several times that he feared that his wife Meghan (43) could suffer a similar fate.
He also blames the exit from the inner circle of the royal family, which he and Meghan completed a good five years ago, and the falling out with relatives on both sides, in part, on the tabloid media, which has followed him wherever he goes since he was a child.
dpa
Source: Stern

I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.