The Duke of Sussex and the publisher of The Sun newspaper will keep the contents of their settlement confidential, a High Court judge has said. Harry, 40, alleged he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.
Shortly before an up-to-10-week trial was due to begin, the duke and NGN reached an agreement including a “full and unequivocal apology” and “substantial” damages, announced on January 22. Former deputy Labour leader Lord Tom Watson also agreed a settlement with NGN as he was also offered an apology and substantial damages for “unwarranted intrusion” into his private life during his time in government by the News of the World.
In High Court orders on Thursday, Mr Justice Fancourt said the parties had accepted terms set out in an agreement dated January 27. He added that the parties had made an undertaking “that they will keep the contents of the settlement agreement confidential on the terms set out therein”.
The judge later said that NGN will pay both the duke’s and Lord Watson’s share of so-called “common costs” – including solicitors and barristers’ fees – incurred as part of the wider legal case into alleged phone hacking. NGN previously apologised to Harry for intrusion between 1996 and 2011, including “incidents of unlawful activities” by private investigators working for The Sun.
