Imogen James
Live reporter

This was meant to be a two-month case, but the much-anticipated legal battle involving Prince Harry, Tom Watson and the Sun's owner - News Group Newspapers (NGN) - was repeatedly delayed throughout Tuesday, and is ultimately over before it even started.

As murmurs began in the courtroom about "substantial sums", all eyes turned to the possibility of a settlement.

This morning, journalists piled back into the room, sitting in the exact same seats today as yesterday. Then, just over 24 hours after we'd entered the High Court on what was meant to be day one of the trial, the settlement was announced.

Prince Harry and Lord Watson received an apology and have been awarded "substantial damages" from NGN for "serious intrusion", as well as an admittance that private investigators hired by the Sun had "acted unlawfully".

One freezing cold press conference later, with press huddled outside, we heard an impassioned, strong statement from the claimant's lawyer, David Sherborne, who called it a "monumental victory".

Just as I was about to leave court came the reply from NGN, saying that today's settlement "draws a line under the past", offers a "full and unequivocal apology" and refutes the allegations that News International "destroyed evidence in 2010/11".

Meanwhile, the duke's team called on Parliament and the police to investigate this illegal activity, as well as "perjury and coverups" - it might not be completely over.

Gabriela Pomeroy
Live reporter

Prince Harry has agreed a settlement with the publisher of The Sun newspaper - News Group Newspapers (NGN) - for intrusion into his private life over a 15 year period.

This is the first time unlawful activities have been admitted at the Sun. Here's a quick look at what we have learned today:

'Unequivocal' apology issued

NGN said it agreed to pay "substantial damages".

It offered a "full and unequivocal apology" to Prince Harry for the intrusion into his private life "including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun" between 1996 and 2011.

It also offered a "full and unequivocal apology" to the duke for "phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World."

The group also apologised for the "serious intrusion" into the "private life of Diana, Princess of Wales".

Calls for police investigation

Outside the court, Prince Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne called it a "monumental victory" and "vindication."

NGN has "finally been held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law", he said.

Sherborne called on Parliament and the police to investigate this illegal activity.

Labour peer Lord Tom Watson, who was also part of the case against NGN, said they would be passing on a "dossier exposing wrongdoing" to the Met police.

If you'd like more on the case, our story summarising the events in court is here.

Or read our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan's analysis of whether this constitutes a victory for Prince Harry.

We've just had this statement from the Press Recognition Panel - a body set up to ensure press regulators are independent.

The panel chair, Kathryn Cearns, says it is concerned that senior executives at News Group Newspapers "appear to have misled not only the Leveson Inquiry, but also the many victims of press intrusion over a period of nearly 20 years through their previous denials of unlawful activities" at the Sun.

The settlement with Prince Harry will "allow them to evade accountability for their actions," she says, as the huge legal costs of pursuing a case like this mean that victims of press intrusion tend to settle.

The system currently allows "powerful media companies to avoid the scrutiny and accountability" that going to court would have revealed, according to Cearns

More about the Press Recognition Panel: It was created as a result of the Leveson Inquiry of 2011-2012 into press standards and ethics - an inquiry launched after the phone-hacking scandal.

As we've previously reported, this is not the first time Prince Harry has taken on the newspapers.

He has long been at odds with the tabloid press, which he said last year had been "central" to the breakdown of his relationship with the rest of the Royal Family.

In 2023, he was the first senior royal to give evidence in a law court in 132 years and faced intense cross-examination in the witness box at the Hight Court.

His appearance focused on articles from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People newspapers, which he claimed were obtained through unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking.

The four-year-long case related to claims of unlawful intrusion on stories published between 1996 and 2010.

Like today's case, this earlier legal battle also resulted in a settlement - with Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) set to pay all of Prince Harry's legal costs, plus around £300,000 extra in damages.

He had less success in a battle against the Mail on Sunday, withdrawing his libel claim against the paper's publisher last year.

Prince Harry had sued over an article about his publicly-funded security arrangements when visiting the UK after stepping back as a senior royal.

In an article on the Daily Mail website, the paper said he had "abandoned his case" hours before a court deadline and that he would be liable for the publisher's £250,000 legal costs.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Prince Harry's team hailed the deal that stopped the trial as a "monumental victory", receiving an undisclosed amount of "substantial damages" and an "unequivocal apology".

They say he's been vindicated - but will there also, deep down, be some mixed feelings. Was this really "slaying dragons" of the tabloid press, as he'd celebrated after a previous win when he'd given evidence in court against Mirror Group Newspapers?

What Prince Harry's team have seized upon is the skyscraper scale of the apology - seeing it as a "collapse" of the NGN's denials.

They might argue that even if he had fought the court battle and won, there wouldn't be any more to be gained.

This has always been a very personal battle for Prince Harry, the battle with the tabloids touching on his childhood as well as his adult life. So it's significant that the apology includes an admission of a "serious intrusion" into the "private life of Diana, Princess of Wales".

That could mean more to him than any financial deal.

• Read more about whether Prince Harry really won his tabloid battle here

Speaking from court a few hours ago, the board director of Hacked Off said “it is a humiliating day for the Sun and the senior executives at News Group Newspapers, who have finally admitted that allegations of illegality made against the publisher are true".

Emma Jones, who is part of the campaign set up in 2011 in response to phone-hacking revelations, added that today "the Sun’s targets have been vindicated".

“The Sun’s claims of innocence formed part of the broader press campaign against independent regulation and Leveson Part Two," she added.

"Now we have confirmation – from the publisher itself – that this was fabrication, the Prime Minister must get on with robust policy on press accountability without further delay."

Nathan Sparkes, who is the chief executive of Hacked Off, said in a later statement that over the last 15 years, the news group has faced over 1,300 claims.

"They've paid out to build over £1bn, denying essentially that the Sun was responsible for any kinds of illegal activity. So to finally get an admission that we've all been effectively lied to about that is a really significant development," he said.

March 2020: The High Court is told the Sun unlawfully obtained phone records of Harry's then-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, in 2005, and hears these were sent to the Sun's then-royal correspondent, Duncan Larcombe. NGN did not respond to the allegation in court.

June 2020, Mr Justice Mann rules victims of phone hacking can sue NGN for alleged unlawful information gathering between 1996 and 2011.

April 2023: NGN applies for the case to be thrown out, arguing it was brought too late, as the court hears a "secret agreement" was reached between the institution of the royal family and NGN - stopping them from bringing legal claims.

July 2023: Justice Fancourt ruled that Harry could not bring his claim relating to phone hacking. He ruled other claims, including the use of private investigators, should go ahead to a trial.

May 2024: Fancourt rules that claims made against Rupert Murdoch as part of Harry's legal action could not be tested at trial, but ruled some other amendments could be made. Harry's barrister accuses Murdoch of "turning a blind eye" to allegations of phone hacking at the News Of The World.

June 2024: Justice Fancourt orders Harry to explain the deletion of exchanges via the Signal messaging service between himself and the ghost writer of his memoir, Spare.

January 2025: The trial fails to begin as expected after barristers for both sides asked for delays for "discussions", stating they were "very close" in negotiations.

Today: Harry settles his case against News Group Newspapers as they offer a "full and unequivocal apology" for "serious intrusion" and agree to pay him "substantial damages".

Image source, Getty Images

We've just heard former Sun newspaper editor Kelvin MacKenzie saying we might be seeing the "last days" of News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks.

For those of you who are not aware of who she is, here's a quick profile of the media executive:

Brooks has been in her current position heading up News UK, Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper operation, since 2015.

She resigned from her previous role as chief executive of News International (now called News UK) in 2011, in the wake of a phone-hacking scandal which took her from being behind the national headlines to their subject.

Rupert Murdoch subsequently closed the News of the World due to the controversy. Brooks was later cleared of criminal phone-hacking charges by a jury in 2014.

Following her brush with the courts, she was reappointed by Murdoch as chief of News UK in 2015.

Brooks, formerly Wade, started out in journalism as a teenager.

She joined the now-defunct News of the World at 20, working her way up to become editor in 2000 - at the time the youngest editor of a national newspaper aged 32.

In 2003 she moved to the Sun, becoming the first woman to edit the title, and stayed there for six years.

These years at the helm cover a portion of the years (1996-2011) over which NGN issued its apology to Prince Harry, acknowledging private investigators engaged in unlawful activity on the Sun's behalf.

Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie says we're seeing the "last days" of News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks and that he is "astonished" at scale of admissions.

MacKenzie tells Radio 4's World at One programme a public company having to give evidence on this kind of case would have been "massively damaging", adding it's difficult to know how Brooks "would survive such a cross examination".

He adds that there is now "a massive question mark" on whether she can survive this case, adding that "you're now seeing the last days of the CEO".

Asked about whether how far News Group Newspapers (NGN) went in its admission, he says "frankly I'm astonished" and that "the heat" will only increase on the firm.

As a reminder, NGN's apology in regards to the Sun refers to the unlawful activities of private investigators working for the newspaper from 1996 to 2011, not the journalists. Their apology in regards to News of the World covers phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World.

"There was always going to come a day like this. And you know, Harry’s pursued it and [NGN] were on the back foot. There was probably nothing else they could do," MacKenzie says, adding the admission of unlawful activity was probably a non-negotiable line for Prince Harry.

He says it's "amazing" as the group had always "held the line" against that admission, claiming unlawful activity was only ever a News of the World issue.

"I just wonder whether that will open more floodgates for them, to be honest," MacKenzie adds.

Imogen James
Live reporter

As we were so busy in court earlier, trying to convey the news of a settlement and apology, we didn't report all the comments from the judge.

Strikingly, after the settlement was announced, Mr Justice Fancourt told the court it was "hard to imagine" that others will take similar allegations to trial after this.

This is most likely as a result of Prince Harry and Lord Watson settling, and their allegations of unlawful information gathering therefore not making it to trial.

"It is obviously regrettable that the agreement was only reached at a very late stage after huge resources, both private and public, have been dedicated to preparing these very complex claims for trial, but that is the parties' prerogative," he added.

The judge had been clearly frustrated yesterday, at the continuous request for delays of the trial opening.

In a statement after the settlement, News Group Newspapers said any new cases would be "liable" to being thrown out.

Image source, PA Media

Prince Harry and Lord Watson aren't the first to settle in cases involving News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Included in their ranks are actor Hugh Grant, actress Sienna Miller, ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne and Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm.

Others include actors Keith Allen, comic Catherine Tate and Mathew Horne.

In 2021, Sienna Miller stood outside the Rolls Building of the High Court - the same court in which Prince Harry was pursuing his case against NGN - and said she had wanted to go to trial but didn't have "countless millions".

In 2019, Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and Heather Mills settled phone hacking claims against NGN.

Most reached these agreements close to the trial beginning, much like today.

We've just heard from Lord Tom Watson's lawyer, Ellen Gallagher, who calls this a "historic moment".

Speaking to our colleagues on Radio 4's World at One programme, Gallagher notes that this is the first time unlawful activities have been admitted at the Sun - and that this is "something that has always been denied in every single claim until now".

"Whenever there’s been a public apology, News Group has made it very plain that there’s no admission made in respect to wrongdoing being carried our at the Sun," she says, adding: "This really is a landmark settlement."

Questioned about what she expects will happen next, Gallagher says she hopes there will be "some holding of account into what has gone on and been admitted in respect to the wrongdoing".

Gallagher is also asked if she thinks there needs to be a change in the law in terms of people feeling compelled to settle in similar cases due to high legal costs.

"It’s a complicated questions to answer," she says, adding: "The reality is justice is very difficult to achieve by people who haven’t got financial resources to go through the court system."

Katie Razzall
Culture editor

What happens next – if anything – will indicate quite how much of a victory this is.

Because it’s also a win for NGN. It avoids eight weeks of a drip drip drip of allegations and NGN hasn’t admitted that Sun journalists acted illegally, only private investigators working for the Sun.

The court also now won’t test the claims that senior executives deliberately obstructed justice by deleting emails and taking part in a cover up of evidence (this is “strongly denied” by NGN).

And there won’t be damaging headlines about press intrusion into the royal family and the heart of Government.

Both sides have something to celebrate. But perhaps the overwhelming sense for both will be relief that a lengthy and bruising court battle is now at an end.

We're now hearing from Met Police - as a reminder, Prince Harry's lawyer earlier called on officers to investigate the illegal activity for which NGN apologised today.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the outcome of the civil proceedings. It remains the case that there are no active police investigations into allegations of phone hacking or related matters.

“We await any correspondence from the parties involved, which we will respond to in due course.”

Katie Razzall
Culture editor

The Duke of Sussex and Lord Watson are portraying this as a “monumental victory”.

In many ways it is.

Prince Harry has received an apology for 15 years of “serious intrusion” by the Sun newspaper, including the use of private investigators who acted unlawfully. He’s also got an apology not just for the invasion of his privacy but also that of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The references to the Sun in NGN’s apology are key. Prince Harry would not have settled without it.

Up to now, News Group Newspapers has denied unlawful behaviour at the Sun.

It’s spent upwards of £1 billion in pay-outs and legal costs to others who claim that their phones were hacked and their privacy invaded not just by the defunct News of the World, but by the Sun.

Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller have previously said they would have liked to have their claims that their phones were hacked by the Sun tested in court. Both said they felt compelled to settle because the legal costs would have been so high.

David Sherborne claimed outside court on behalf of Prince Harry and Lord Watson that “the truth has now been exposed”.

They want the police to investigate. They want the government to act.

Today's settlement “draws a line” under more than a decade of litigation, News Group Newspapers (NGN) said in a statement which we brought to you in full earlier, here's a recap:

‘Widespread’ use of private investigators: Newspapers and broadcast media widely used private investigators in the 1990s and 2000s, NGN says. "In most cases, their use was for public interest journalism and to obtain information necessary for the purposes of journalism."

‘Full and unequivocal apology’: NGN says it has long been "a matter of record" that Prince Harry’s phone was hacked by the News of the World. Its apology covers “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them".

Not by journalists: The apology also covers incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun newspaper from 1996-2011, the statement says - but “not by journalists”.

Watson's phone not hacked: NGN would have called evidence from telecoms experts to demonstrate that hacking after 2007 was "nigh on impossible due to security upgrades undertaken by telecoms companies".

Face the future: “Strong controls and processes” are in place at all NGN titles to avoid unlawful activity of the kind under scrutiny today happening again.

Imogen James
Reporting from the High Court

This morning, we we were braced for the start of the trial between Prince Harry and Lord Tom Watson against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Instead, a last-minute "substantial" settlement was announced in the High Court by Prince Harry's lawyer David Sherborne.

NGN made an apology to both claimants, for the "serious intrusion" on both men's private lives.

It is the first time NGN has admitted wrongdoing against the royal, involving unlawful activities by private investigators for the Sun - which they clarified did not involve journalists.

In a statement on behalf of the duke, Sherborne told reporters it was a "monumental" victory and NGN was "finally" held to account.

Lord Watson then spoke outside court, thanking Prince Harry for his efforts, saying the duke is "a predator to the big beast of media".

The BBC has been told the legal fees are estimated to be around £10m for both parties in total, and NGN is expected to pay these. We are still waiting for the total costs and damages to be paid by NGN.

NGN have released a statement to "clarify questions raised after the hearing", saying there are "strong controls and processes in place" in all their titles today to ensure this cannot happen now.

Today we have come to agreements with the Duke Of Sussex and Lord Watson to pay damages and to settle their cases. It is in the interests of all the parties to come to a settlement.

This statement is to clarify questions raised after the hearing.

It has long been a matter of record that the Duke of Sussex’s phone was hacked by the News of the World. Two people served criminal sentences for this in 2006 and an apology was given. Today a full and unequivocal apology is given to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World. Phone hacking at the News of the World was not due to be a part of this trial but it is a part of this settlement.

In the 1990s and early 2000s there was widespread use by the broadcast and news media of private investigators. In most cases, their use was for public interest journalism and to obtain information necessary for the purposes of journalism.

Today, our apology to the Duke of Sussex includes an apology for incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun, not by journalists, during the period 1996-2011.

There are strong controls and processes in place at all our titles today to ensure this cannot happen now. There was no voicemail interception on The Sun.

It must also be stressed that allegations that were being made publicly pre trial (and indeed post settlement) that News International destroyed evidence in 2010/11 would have been the subject of significant challenge at trial. These allegations were and continue to be strongly denied. Extensive evidence would have been called in trial to rebut these allegations from senior staff from technology and legal.

After we served our skeleton arguments and evidence for trial including witness statements, the Duke has not sought to pursue these allegations further despite his stated intent and no admission or apology has been made in relation to this. This is significant. This matter was also investigated fully by the police and CPS between 2012-2015, at the conclusion of which it was found that there was no case to answer.

Lord Watson’s phone was not hacked in 2009-11 and had this gone to trial, NGN would have called evidence from telecoms experts to demonstrate that hacking after 2007 was nigh on impossible due to security upgrades undertaken by telecoms companies. This evidence was also provided to the Leveson Inquiry. No admission has been made on this today.

After more than a decade of litigation, and 14 years since the News of the World closed down, today’s settlement draws a line under the past and brings an end to this litigation. Indeed the Judge made it clear in remarks in court at the end of the hearing that these cases are likely to be the last liable to go to trial. Any cases now brought, years after the events, will be liable to be struck out.

The Sun today can face the future and continue its proud record of award-winning public interest journalism, investigations and campaigning on behalf of its readers.

Imogen James
Reporting from the High Court

A part of Prince Harry's case against NGN involved his late mother, Princess Diana.

He has previously publicly said that he believed there was evidence his mother - the late Princess Diana - was hacked, claiming she "was probably one of the first" victims.

And today, an apology was given, all these years later.

In the statement issued by NGN, they wrote that they apologise to the duke for the "serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales, his late mother, in particular during his younger years".

Earlier in this case, Prince Harry was refused permission to push the timeline of the case back to 1994 and 1995, to include allegations involving his late mother as the judge said it was "too late".

Image source, Getty Images

Imogen James
Reporting from the High Court

It was an intense scene earlier, as the settlement announcement dropped.

The top floor of the Rolls building was filled with suits and people taking phone calls.

Outside was chaos with photographers vying for the best spot, they've now packed up their kits.

After returning from the freezing cold press conference, I'm sitting on the same floor with a very different feeling - I wouldn't be surprised if a tumble weed rolled past.

Up here it's eerily quiet, with just a few reporters left - making use of the warmth and Wi-Fi no doubt.

Things are certainly much calmer than they were before.