Rupert Murdoch’s publishers pay more than £1bn and counting after latest Prince Harry settlement
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Newspaper publishers already paid thousands of others in settlement claims. Rupert Murdoch’s UK publishing business has paid out more than £1bn over the phone-hacking scandal and its subsequent legal fees, with the latest settlement involving Prince Harry reported to be at least £10m.
![[Harry’s barrister David Sherborne described the agreements as a “vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling”.]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/22/14/01JJ6X96ZYBFBH0Y8DMZQM773J.jpg)
On Wednesday morning, the Duke of Sussex’s barrister announced that News Group Newspapers (NGN) had offered an “unequivocal apology” and agreed to pay substantial damages. According to royal correspondent Chris Ship, these amounted to an “eight-figure” sum, marking a significant addition to the total.
The payout follows years of legal battles stemming from allegations of unlawful information-gathering by journalists and private investigators working for NGN’s titles. Harry and Lord Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader, were the final remaining claimants in the case against NGN, which denied the allegations, after many high-profile figures – including actor Hugh Grant – had already settled similar claims.
In 2021, it was reported that NGN had spent over £1bn on payouts to 1,300 people and legal fees. Since then, Murdoch’s company has reached settlement agreements with 39 additional individuals, culminating in today’s high-profile settlement with the Duke of Sussex.
