Prince Harry will no longer travel to the UK next month following the resolution of his legal battle with News Group Newspapers (NGN). The Duke of Sussex, 40, was scheduled to testify in February, but the settlement of his High Court claim means he will not return to London as originally planned.
Instead, Harry will focus on his upcoming commitments, including attending the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada. On Wednesday, NGN offered him a “full and unequivocal apology” for serious intrusions into his privacy, including phone hacking and unlawful activities by private investigators for The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.
Harry’s claim, lodged over five years ago, alleged that journalists and private investigators working for NGN illegally accessed his personal information between 1996 and 2011. Following three adjournment requests and a Court of Appeal bid, the case remained unopened. A trial set for up to ten weeks was officially vacated after both parties reached a settlement.
Harry’s barrister, David Sherborne, announced in court that NGN had agreed to pay “substantial damages” and formally apologized for the distress caused. “NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun… and acknowledges the damage inflicted on his relationships, friendships, and family,” Sherborne stated.
The settlement also acknowledged regret over NGN’s handling of related actions following the 2006 arrests linked to the phone hacking scandal, though it denied any admission of illegality. Prince Harry is among several high-profile claimants against NGN, including Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, who have already settled similar cases.
This legal victory is one of many disputes involving the Duke and his interactions with the UK, including ongoing issues with government security provisions for his visits. As he moves forward, Harry remains focused on his personal and philanthropic endeavors, including his leadership of the Invictus Games.
