Prince Harry agrees to sit down as Murdoch’s UK Tabloids issue full apology

Prince Harry’s lawyer announced on Wednesday that he had reached a settlement with Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers over allegations of illegal information gathering – a surprise charge in a case Harry has made a last-ditch effort to keep the tabloid to be responsible for many years. .

News Group Newspapers gave Harry a “full and unequivocal” apology for hacking his phone and intruding into his privacy, and acknowledged the “unlawful” behavior of the perpetrators an independent investigation commissioned by one of the tabloids, The Sun.

The company also apologized for previous intrusions into the private life of Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being chased by the photographer.

“We accept and apologize for the inconvenience caused to the Duke, and the damage caused to relationships, friendships and families, and have agreed to pay him substantial compensation,” the apology said, referring to Harry using his surname. -another honor, Duke of Sussex. .

The settlement, announced days after the start of a long-awaited trial, spared News Group Newspapers weeks of damaging testimony about phone hacking and other illegal practices it used for decades. ago to find information about Harry and other celebrities. . It protected Harry, 40, the younger brother of King Charles III, from a heavy financial risk, regardless of what happened to him at court. Under English law, Harry would have been required to pay both parties’ legal costs if the court had not awarded him an amount consistent with what News Group Newspapers had offered him in the settlement.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.