Prince Harry has secured a significant win in his legal battle against the Mirror Group Newspapers, with the judge ruling in his favor and awarding him approximately $180,000 in damages. The ruling, delivered by Judge Timothy Fancourt in a London courtroom, highlighted the unlawful acquisition of personal information about the royal by MGN-owned newspapers, which were subsequently made public.
Key Takeaway
Prince Harry has emerged victorious in his legal battle against the Mirror Group Newspapers, securing damages and highlighting the unlawful acquisition of personal information by certain tabloids.
Judge’s Ruling and Unlawful Activities
Judge Fancourt’s ruling revealed that the tabloids had engaged in phone hacking to access Prince Harry’s voicemail messages, using the obtained information to craft and publish stories. The intrusive practices, spanning from 2004 to 2009, were found to have caused considerable distress to Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. The court determined that 15 out of 33 articles published by The Sunday Mirror and another paper contained illegally acquired information from Prince Harry’s personal phone.
Impact and Legal Proceedings
Prince Harry’s legal action against the newspapers stems from the period between 1991 and 2011, during which he was third in line to the British throne, following his father, King Charles, and his older brother, Prince William. The case notably saw Prince Harry testify for seven hours, marking a historic moment as he became the first senior royal to take the witness stand in centuries within a court of law.
Continued Legal Battles
Despite this victory, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still pursuing two additional lawsuits against British tabloids, alleging further violations of their privacy rights.
