London, UK – December 15, 2023 – In a landmark victory for privacy rights, Prince Harry has been awarded £140,600 ($179,658) in damages after a High Court judge ruled that Mirror Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Daily Mirror, “probably hacked” his phone.
The Duke of Sussex filed the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that Mirror Group Newspapers had unlawfully obtained private information about him and his family through phone hacking and other methods between 1991 and 2011. He joined forces with over 100 other claimants, including the estate of the late pop icon George Michael, in seeking justice for the alleged misuse of their private information.
The courtroom saw weeks of intense legal battles, with Harry’s team accusing the publisher of “an industrial scale” of unlawful information gathering. Harry himself took the stand in June, becoming the first British royal to do so in over a century. He spoke of the destructive impact the tabloids’ intrusive reporting had on his childhood and fueled his distrust of the media.
“Today’s ruling is vindicating and affirming,” Harry declared in a statement following the court’s decision. “Slaying dragons will get you burned, but this victory stands for a free and honest press, a mission worth pursuing.”
*Kenya to Become Visa-Free Country in 2024
While Mirror Group Newspapers denied any wrongdoing, the court found “extensive” evidence of phone hacking and other unlawful practices during the period in question. They did, however, apologize for “some evidence” of using third parties for “unlawful information gathering.”
This partial victory marks a significant moment for the Duke of Sussex, who has been a vocal critic of the British tabloid press and their often-intrusive tactics. He is currently involved in five other lawsuits against various media outlets, all stemming from similar allegations of privacy violations.
“Harry is determined to see real change in how celebrities and the royal family are treated by the media,” said ABC News royal contributor Robert Jobson. “He is sending a clear message that enough is enough, and this victory is a major step in that direction.”
The court’s decision sets a precedent for future cases involving media intrusion and the right to privacy in the digital age. While the fight for media reform continues, Prince Harry’s victory offers a beacon of hope for those seeking protection from the invasive reach of the tabloids.