Prince Harry has won a long-running legal battle against media group News Group Newspapers (NGN), owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit concerning the illegal phone hacking by the tabloids The Sun.

The Duke of Sussex will receive $12 million. From the beginning, Prince Harry insisted that the case was not about money but about accountability. This decision marks the first official acknowledgment that The Sun used illegal methods to gather information.

In a statement read in court, NGN apologized, saying:

«We apologize to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion into his private life during the period from 1996 to 2011, including instances of illegal activity by private investigators working for The Sun. NGN also apologizes to the Duke of Sussex for phone hacking, surveillance, and improper use of personal information by journalists and private investigators instructed by News of the World».

The newspaper also issued an apology for invading Princess Diana’s privacy:

«NGN also apologizes to the Duke for the impact of widespread coverage and serious intrusion into his private life, as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, particularly during his younger years».

Previously, Murdoch’s media group had reached out-of-court settlements with more than 1,300 individuals who accused it of phone hacking. The 2011 scandal led to the closure of News of the World. The dispute with Prince Harry was the last unresolved case.

Photo: Instagram @theroyalfamily