The Duke of Sussex settled his high court legal action at the eleventh hour against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Prince Harry’s legal team hailed the deal a (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry’s legal team hailed the deal that stopped his trial as a “monumental victory” as he received an undisclosed amount of damages after alleging journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) used unlawful techniques to pry on his private life.

But it seems to be a different stance from when Prince Harry was initially adamant about creating a change in the media landscape within the UK and seeing the case through to the end.

In December 2024 Harry discussed at the New York Times DealBook Summit the fact that around 1,300 people have accepted financial settlements from the publisher. He said he was one of the last people who could afford to see the case through for “accountability”.

Today, however, the prince settled his high court legal action at the eleventh hour against the publisher of The Sun.

It is reported NGN have paid Prince Harry an eight figure sum in damages (Image: Getty)

The publisher said it would also pay “substantial damages” as the two sides settled their legal claim, Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne, told the high court.

NGN, which also ran the now-defunct News Of The World, had denied any unlawful activity took place at The Sun.

A trial was set to begin at the High Court in London on Tuesday, but three requests for adjournments and a Court of Appeal bid meant the case remained unopened.

Chris Ship, Royal Editor at ITV News wrote on X: “Just been told News Group Newspapers have paid Prince Harry and EIGHT figure sum in damages.”

He later added: “The damages awarded by NGN to Prince Harry are between £10 and £20 million, according to a well-placed source.”

The announcement in London’s High Court came despite the Duke of Sussex’s vow that he was the one person who could hold the publishers of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World accountable at trial for unlawful information gathering.

“One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I’m the last person that can actually achieve that,” he told The New York Times DealBook Summit in December when he said he wouldn’t settle.

The Duke of Sussex alleged journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) used unlawful techniques to pry on his private life – and executives then allegedly covered it up.

NGN apologised for “serious intrusion” by the Sun between 1996 and 2011, and admitted “incidents of unlawful activity” were carried out by private investigators working for the newspaper, in a statement read out in court.

It also apologised for distress it caused Harry through the “extensive coverage” and “serious intrusion” into the private life of his late mother, Princess Diana.

Meanwhile the Telegraph reported: “The statement by [NGN] did include an apology for the intrusion into the private life of the Duke’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, reflecting a particular grievance that had eaten away at him for decades.”

Lord Tom Watson was also taking legal action against the publisher, but also settled his claim.