Prince Harry reaches an agreement with Mirror Group over phone hacking allegation

The Duke of Sussex is set to receive a significant payout in his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), according to his barrister. MGN will cover all of Prince Harry's legal costs, starting with an interim payment of £400,000. In December, the duke was awarded £140,600 in damages after winning 15 claims against MGN. The new settlement pertains to 115 additional stories involving unlawful intrusion. MGN expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating that it offers clarity and allows the company to move forward from past events. Prince Harry was one of several high-profile figures who accused MGN, publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, of invading their privacy for stories. The court ruled there was evidence of widespread and habitual phone hacking at MGN. The settlement was reached just before 115 more articles were due to be examined in court. In a statement read outside the High Court, Prince Harry's barrister called for the authorities to uphold the rule of law and included former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan in the appeal. The duke's mission to hold those responsible accountable will continue. Other individuals, including actor Michael Le Vell and actress Nikki Sanderson, brought similar claims against MGN. Some claims were dismissed due to being made too late. The judge criticized the confrontational approach taken by both parties in this legal battle. Prince Harry did not attend the court hearing as he had returned to the US after visiting his father, King Charles III, following his cancer diagnosis. The duke has been a vocal critic of sections of the tabloid press and is still involved in various ongoing legal battles, including claims against News Group Newspapers set to go to trial in 2025. Last month, he withdrew a libel claim against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday.