Prince Harry Receives Overdue Apology from The Sun on Behalf of His Mom, the Late Princess Diana

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

News Group Newspapers issued an apology to Prince Harry for years of "serious intrusion" into his "private life" as part of a settlement concluding his legal dispute with The Sun publisher, also expressing remorse for overstepping boundaries in its coverage of his late mother, Princess Diana.

On January 22, NGN issued a complete apology to the Duke of Sussex, who is 40 years old, and awarded him "substantial damages" for the unauthorized access to his phone and the violation of his privacy that occurred prior to the commencement of his trial against the publisher. According to reports, the agreement included an eight-figure sum, which is likely to exceed $12 million, and included compensatory damages and legal expenses. The publisher of The Sun has issued an apology for the previous invasions of privacy by its journalists regarding Princess Diana. This is the first official recognition of malfeasance associated with the prominent tabloid.

In a statement acquired by PEOPLE after the unexpected settlement on January 22, NGN, owned by Rupert Murdoch, expressed "a complete and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the significant intrusion by The Sun into his private life from 1996 to 2011, including unlawful activities conducted by private investigators employed by The Sun."

The news organization issued "a comprehensive and unambiguous apology" to the late Princess Diana's son for "the phone hacking, surveillance, and exploitation of private information by journalists and private investigators employed by them at the News of the World," referring to the now-defunct tabloid previously under its ownership.

NGN extends its apologies to the Duke for the repercussions of the enormous media coverage and significant intrusion into his private life, as well as that of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, particularly during his formative years, according to the statement. "We recognize and regret the distress caused to the Duke, as well as the harm inflicted on relationships, friendships, and family, and have consented to compensate him with significant damages."

Prince Harry accused the publisher of illicit information acquisition from 1996 to 2011, a period during which The Sun and News of the World purportedly focused on him. This period coincided with Princess Diana's tragic demise at the age of 36 in August 1997, resulting from a car accident in Paris while being trailed by photographers.

The prominent trial was initially planned to commence on January 21 but was postponed by one day due to confidential settlement negotiations. Prince Harry was absent from court on January 21 and was represented by his attorney, David Sherborne.

Harry was scheduled to provide testimony later in the trial, which was concurrently conducted with former Labour Member of Parliament Tom Watson.

Prince Harry and Watson were the sole claimants who declined to participate in the numerous settlements reached by others with NGN regarding accusations of phone hacking and other illicit information acquisition by journalists and private investigators. Sienna Miller was another prominent individual implicated in the initial allegations but reached a settlement at an early phase.

On January 22, NGN issued a watershed apology, extending "a full and unequivocal apology" to Lord Watson for the unjust intrusion into his private life by the News of the World during his tenure in Government from 2009 to 2011. The corporation has consented to compensate Lord Watson with "substantial damages."

Outside the court, Sherbourne delivered a statement on behalf of Harry and Watson, characterizing NGN's acknowledgment of involvement in unlawful activities as a "monumental victory," while the former MP commended the Duke of Sussex for his leadership in the matter.