In a landmark ruling, London’s High Court has declared Prince Harry a victim of phone hacking and other illicit activities by journalists from Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), awarding him £140,600 in damages. This decision marks a pivotal moment in Prince Harry’s ongoing legal battles against British media entities.
The Court’s Findings
High Court Justice Timothy Fancourt concluded that between 2006 and 2011, the Mirror Group Newspapers, comprising the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, engaged in “extensive” phone hacking of celebrities. This misconduct even persisted during a public inquiry into British press conduct. Fancourt noted that Harry’s phone was targeted between 2003 and 2009, determining that 15 out of 33 articles presented as evidence by Prince Harry were the product of phone hacking or other unlawful information gathering.
Implications of the Ruling
This verdict emphasizes the issue of unethical practices in journalism, highlighting the responsibility of media outlets to uphold lawful and ethical standards. Fancourt’s judgment points to “compelling evidence” that the editors of these newspapers were fully aware of the phone-hacking activities and benefited from them. However, he also mentioned that the company’s board, owned by Reach, was kept in the dark about these practices by its former chief executive and legal director.
Prince Harry leaving the London court house
Prince Harry’s Statement
In a statement read by his lawyer, David Sherborne, Prince Harry described the ruling as “vindicating and affirming.” He emphasized the need for a free, honest, and accountable press, calling for action against those who have broken the law. Since relocating to California with his wife Meghan after stepping down from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry has been vocal about his mission to combat what he terms as “criminals masquerading as journalists,” specifically targeting senior executives and editors.
Meanwhile, the case against MGN is one of several legal actions Prince Harry is pursuing. He has also won the right to bring a similar phone-hacking case against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Allegations against News Corp’s News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, will also go to trial.
Reactions and Continuing Efforts
The ruling has been a “bittersweet moment” for witnesses like former Sunday Mirror investigations editor Graham Johnson, who was branded a “professional liar” by MGN but hailed as a “whistleblower” by Prince Harry’s team. The judgment is also seen as a call for more robust regulation of the press, with Prince Harry likening the current Independent Press Standards Organisation to a “poodle” rather than an effective watchdog. He urged the restart of the Leveson Inquiry, which was intended to investigate press standards but was never completed.
MGN, in response, welcomed the judgment for providing clarity and apologized unreservedly for past wrongdoings, stating their commitment to responsibility and appropriate compensation.
