Prince Harry emerged victorious in a legal battle against the British tabloid 'The Mirror,' which has been ordered to compensate him with a sum of 140 thousand euros for phone hacking.
The judgment was delivered at the High Court in London, where the judge declared that 15 out of the 33 articles pivotal to Prince Harry's claim, published by Mirror Group Newspapers, "were the product of phone hacking of his mobile phone or the mobile phones of his associates, or the product of other illegal collection of information."
Outside the court, Prince Harry's lawyer, David Sherbourne, conveyed a comprehensive statement on behalf of the Duke of Sussex, describing the win as "vindicating and affirming." Sherbourne emphasized the significance of the day, stating, "Today is a great day for both truth and accountability."
In a symbolic declaration, Prince Harry remarked on the challenges faced, stating, "I've been told that killing dragons will burn you. But in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is necessary for a free and honest press, it is a price worth paying. The mission continues."
Although the Duke of Sussex was not physically present during the ruling due to short notice, it is reported that he witnessed the proceedings through a video link.
Prince Harry was among several plaintiffs who took legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers for alleged illegal information gathering. Testifying against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Sunday People, and more during the summer, he revealed the distress caused by the articles, asserting that the tabloids have "blood on their hands" for the resulting pain.
Mirror Group Newspapers responded to the ruling with a statement expressing acceptance, saying, "We welcome today's ruling which gives the company the clarity needed to move forward with events that took place many years ago." The spokesperson reiterated the previous apology, acceptance of responsibility, and compensation for historical wrongdoing.
The legal saga began in 2019 when Prince Harry filed a lawsuit accusing Mirror Group Newspapers of hacking voicemails from his phone through illegal data collection. MGN consistently denied the allegations. Notably, in June, Prince Harry made history as the first prominent member of the British royal family to testify in court in 130 years. The last royal to do so was King Edward VII in 1890.
As the Duke of Sussex first appeared in court in June, he argued that around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information obtained through illegal methods. The victory stands as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for privacy against media intrusion.
.webp)
