The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 10: August 2024 -

[Curryong]

BOTH sides appear to be open for a settlement, not just Harry. He’s stood firm on having his day in court. But we shall see what develops in the next few days.

 

[FigTree]

BOTH sides appear to be open for a settlement, not just Harry. He’s stood firm on having his day in court. But we shall see what develops in the next few days.

They would always want to settle. As if they'd want anything different. Let him have his money. The actual change came many years ago.

 

[Somebody]

The other party has settled with most of the others who were wronged - in some cases many years ago, so they weren't the 'problem' for reaching a settlement. So far, it was Harry who was not willing to settle because he wanted them in court.

 

[Kenya]

The other party has settled with most of the others who were wronged - in some cases many years ago, so they weren't the 'problem' for reaching a settlement. So far, it was Harry who was not willing to settle because he wanted them in court.

Exactly. The fact that NGN wants to settle isn't some indication of the strength of Harry's case, As the BBC noted, NGN has already settled with 1300 previous plaintiffs. Harry and Lord Watson are just the last two holdouts.

The wisest thing for Harry to do would be to accept the settlement and avoid the risks inherent with every trial. But it might be hard for him to save face if he accepts a settlement, given his insistence on accountability from NCN and the way he's attempted to vilify William for accepting a settlement from NGN.

 

[Hallo girl]

Well, the Murdoch Press have been the ones offering a deal apparently, if this article is true, not the other way round.

So maybe that organisation has not been eager to have a months’ long trial either, with perhaps all sorts of revelations to come out that may not reflect well on them. Harry has been adamant that he wants accountability from the Sun and others.

The only winners in all this will be the lawyers. I just hope for his own sake that Harry does not back himself in a corner, there are no guarantees when you go into court. It just needs somebody to deliver a poor performance in the witness box.
The stress alone of this over your head, it does not matter how confident you are feeling. There has to be a chance he will lose his case, or even win but be left out of pocket, that is what some of the other high profile individuals took into consideration.

 

[OwlBranch]

They would always want to settle. As if they'd want anything different. Let him have his money. The actual change came many years ago.

What kind of change has taken place? Rupert Murdoch remains rich and powerful, people like Will Lewis also remains powerful, he is now the CEO of Washington Post, one of the most prestigious newspaper in US. Rebekah Brooks is still CEO of News UK.

$1bln sounds like a lot of money to you and me, but they are merely cost of doing business to people like Murdoch. These people may have plausible deniability under the law, but morally that is a different story.

 

[Curryong]

A news group that has had well over one thousand plaintiffs and potential plaintiffs complaining about the impact their reporting and/or information gathering had had in order to get dirt on people doesn’t exactly point to the organisation being innocent well meaning lambkins. If I were the head of such a news group I would in fact be deeply ashamed of its methods.

I actually hope that Harry sticks by his principles and continues his court case. These tabloid news organisations rely on plaintiffs not being able to financially continue their cases. They offer a settlement without prejudice so as to appear blameless. They are very far from blameless and if I were in a position like Harry’s I’d want accountability from them. Yes, Even if it left me penniless.

 

[Marengo]

1300 plaintiffs?! What a depressing idea that those people of the Murdoch press can simply get away with anything because they have deeper pockets. Even against a prince of the realm.

Although I would understand the reasons for a possible settlement & to leave this behind, it would be a pity if the Duke can not see it through. The Murdoch press is the very gutter. We all know what was done when the News of the World scandal broke. The Duke certainly has my sympathy for trying to do something againts that awful man and these awful newspaper.

The realistic thing is perhaps to take a settlement, as his brother did a long time ago. But that does not mean that these newspapers are in the right. Far from it. They deserved much worse than a settlement for -what is for them- a few pennies. Although I understand the irony, as the Duke unwisely critisized his brother for it, the bigger picture is simply too dire to look upon this with glee, as some will probably do.

 

[Somebody]

What kind of change has taken place? Rupert Murdoch remains rich and powerful, people like Will Lewis also remains powerful, he is now the CEO of Washington Post, one of the most prestigious newspaper in US. Rebekah Brooks is still CEO of News UK.

$1bln sounds like a lot of money to you and me, but they are merely cost of doing business to people like Murdoch. These people may have plausible deniability under the law, but morally that is a different story.

The case is not about whether someone is rich and powerful or the owner of a newspaper. The case is about using illegal means to obtain private information. It seems they have some guidelines in place regarding this aspect nowadays. That of course doesn't mean that what they publish nowadays is worth reading or that they suddenly have noble motives.

 

[Hallo girl]

What kind of change has taken place? Rupert Murdoch remains rich and powerful, people like Will Lewis also remains powerful, he is now the CEO of Washington Post, one of the most prestigious newspaper in US. Rebekah Brooks is still CEO of News UK.

$1bln sounds like a lot of money to you and me, but they are merely cost of doing business to people like Murdoch. These people may have plausible deniability under the law, but morally that is a different story.

Being realistic, what are the chance of proving that any of the top people were aware of what the others further down the food chain were up to. This all happened many years ago, what witnesses could be pulled out to say that Rupert Murdoch ordered all this to take place. Did the judge not already throw out Harry's attempt to bring Murdoch to court.

 

[Prinsara]

Is there a point to the British law about judgments needing to be larger than offered settlements to avoid paying costs aside from the law not wanting these cases to go trial (or people suing frivolously, I guess)? It does seem to encourage any defendant with sufficiently deep pockets to keep on rolling.

Will Lewis also remains powerful, he is now the CEO of Washington Post

…which has lost a massive amount of prestige and subscribers since he took over (own subscription included), and is currently not considered particularly powerful due to a number of demeaning actions and poor editorial practice.

Little surprise considering where he learned.

 

[FigTree]

What kind of change has taken place? Rupert Murdoch remains rich and powerful, people like Will Lewis also remains powerful, he is now the CEO of Washington Post, one of the most prestigious newspaper in US. Rebekah Brooks is still CEO of News UK.

$1bln sounds like a lot of money to you and me, but they are merely cost of doing business to people like Murdoch. These people may have plausible deniability under the law, but morally that is a different story.

Rules in place to curb the behaviour. Which was what was wanted. The cases that came to light were truly horrific - logging into a dead girls mobile phone messages and therefore making her family think she was alive.

They were truly despicable practices. Horrific, action was taken and otherwise there is no need to call anyone to account in court anymore. It is what it is now. Take your money.

Everyone know Murdoch is vile.

 

[tommy100]

I suspect whatever happens unless Harry wins outright he is never going recoup the cost of this case.

 

[Curryong]

These tabloid news organisations pay out millions each year (now in the present 2020s) to people they have traduced and damaged. These papers digging dirt on people in the public eye didn’t all occur pre Leveson Inquiry. They were despicable before Leveson and they are despicable now.

 

[FigTree]

These tabloid news organisations pay out millions each year (now in the present 2020s) to people they have traduced and damaged. These papers digging dirt on people in the public eye didn’t all occur pre Leveson Inquiry. They were despicable before Leveson and they are despicable now.

But as far as we know not illegal. The appetite for that type of celebrity gossip in papers is gone now anyway.

 

[Curryong]

Oh, it wasn’t celebrity gossip that was behind the Sun raking up a long forgotten tragedy in the Stokes family (Ben Stokes the cricketer) just because they could. And that was only three years ago. They had to pay substantial damages for that abhorrent behaviour. Excellent!

 

[Hallo girl]

Oh, it wasn’t celebrity gossip that was behind the Sun raking up a long forgotten tragedy in the Stokes family (Ben Stokes the cricketer) just because they could. And that was only three years ago. They had to pay substantial damages for that abhorrent behaviour. Excellent!

I am not trying to be picky but this was a different case. Everything they published was previously on record the story was not obtained by illegal means. I do agree it was despicable, absolutely no need for it to be published but not illegal. It was an out of court settlement for distress caused, as I say not condoning just pointing out the differences.

 

[polyesco]

Harry visited the Salinas Fire Department

Salinas Fire Department on Instagram: "Repost from @taffy_salinasfd_facilityk9 🤩🎊🚒🚨 Cruz and Taffy, Facility Dog’s with the Salinas Fire Dept, along with their friends, have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires, providing mu

1,108 likes, 103 comments - salinasfiredepartment on January 21, 2025: "Repost from @taffy_salinasfd_facilityk9 🤩🎊🚒🚨 Cruz and Taffy, Facility Dog’s with the Salinas Fire Dept, along with their friends, have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires, providing much-needed...

www.instagram.com

 

[Lady Daly]

Harry visited the Salinas Fire Department

Salinas Fire Department on Instagram: "Repost from @taffy_salinasfd_facilityk9 🤩🎊🚒🚨 Cruz and Taffy, Facility Dog’s with the Salinas Fire Dept, along with their friends, have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires, providing mu

1,108 likes, 103 comments - salinasfiredepartment on January 21, 2025: "Repost from @taffy_salinasfd_facilityk9 🤩🎊🚒🚨 Cruz and Taffy, Facility Dog’s with the Salinas Fire Dept, along with their friends, have been actively assisting in the efforts to combat the LA fires, providing much-needed...

www.instagram.com

I thought Prince Harry was currently in London re: one of his law suits.

 

[tommy100]

No he isn't, the. Several sources have reported he is still in California, which is being blamed on why the settlement talks with the Sun publishers have taken so long - both sides are blaming it on the time difference between London and California. The judge doesn't sound impressed tbh.

Prince Harry’s crusade against the tabloids suffers almighty climbdown

Duke of Sussex accepts hefty financial settlement from News Group Newspapers, something he had previously said he would never do

www.telegraph.co.uk

Prince Harry ‘very close’ to agreeing settlement with Sun publisher

archived 21 Jan 2025 17:40:02 UTC

archive.is

Prince Harry and The Sun's publisher's trial 'very close' in settlement negotiations, High Court told

The trial had been due to start at 10.30am but was delayed twice, before barristers for both sides requested an adjournment until 10am on Wednesday.

news.sky.com

Prince Harry case against the Sun publisher delayed

Prince Harry's barrister said there was potentially a "good prospect" of an agreement that would save the court time.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lady Daly]

No he isn't, the. Several sources have reported he is still in California, which is being blamed on why the settlement talks with the Sun publishers have taken so long - both sides are blaming it on the time difference between London and California. The judge doesn't sound impressed tbh.

Prince Harry’s crusade against the tabloids suffers almighty climbdown

Duke of Sussex accepts hefty financial settlement from News Group Newspapers, something he had previously said he would never do

www.telegraph.co.uk

Prince Harry ‘very close’ to agreeing settlement with Sun publisher

archived 21 Jan 2025 17:40:02 UTC

archive.is

Prince Harry and The Sun's publisher's trial 'very close' in settlement negotiations, High Court told

The trial had been due to start at 10.30am but was delayed twice, before barristers for both sides requested an adjournment until 10am on Wednesday.

news.sky.com

Prince Harry case against the Sun publisher delayed

Prince Harry's barrister said there was potentially a "good prospect" of an agreement that would save the court time.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thank you Tommy100.

 

[Alison H]

Is there a point to the British law about judgments needing to be larger than offered settlements to avoid paying costs aside from the law not wanting these cases to go trial (or people suing frivolously, I guess)? It does seem to encourage any defendant with sufficiently deep pockets to keep on rolling.



…which has lost a massive amount of prestige and subscribers since he took over (own subscription included), and is currently not considered particularly powerful due to a number of demeaning actions and poor editorial practice.

Little surprise considering where he learned.

No. Damages awarded in court can be as little as £1!

 

[Queen Claude]

For me my fantasy outcome would not be a "massive" settlement, rather I think a victory for Harry would be a modest settlement (with the plantiffs' attorney fees being covered, perhaps that is the massive part) and statement from NGN acknowledging wrongdoing.

According to NPR, "The British hacking scandal has dragged on for many years and involved many people, from the royal family to politicians, celebrities and even crime victims. News UK has paid more than $1.5 billion to settle more than 1,300 complaints against the Sunday paper News of the World and the daily tabloid The Sun." To me the staggering number in this passage is not the $1.5 billion, it is the 1,300 complaints"

The question I have is which publication are Harry and Lord Watson claiming did the illegal information gathering, The Sun or the defunct News of the World? Just as Harry can be rightfully accused of being stubborn, it should also be pointed out that NGN keeps making these settlements but is then is adamant about not admitting guilt. * I think that an acknowledgement of wrongdoing would definitely be in order if The Sun is the main culprit, but it would be in order if it is New of the World but less compelling and relevant IMO.

* An apology was made regarding the New of the World right before it shut down but AFAIK no apologies or admissions of guilt by The Sun.

IT

 

[Hallo girl]

As far as I am aware the SUN has always denied the accusations

 

[Alison H]

Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers: Harry to be paid 'substantial damages' by Sun owner as it apologises for 'serious intrusion'

News Group Newspapers admits "unlawful activity" was carried out by private investigators working for the Sun during the period 1996-2011.

www.bbc.co.uk

Harry and Lord Watson have agreed a settlement.

The apology:

NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology 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.

NGN further apologises to the Duke for the impact on him of the extensive coverage and 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.

We acknowledge and apologise for the distress caused to the Duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages. It is also acknowledged, without any admission of illegality, that NGN's response to the 2006 arrests and subsequent actions were regrettable.

NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to Lord Watson for the unwarranted intrusion carried out into his private life during his time in Government by the News of the World during the period 2009- 2011.

This includes him being placed under surveillance in 2009 by journalists at the News of the World and those instructed by them. NGN also acknowledges and apologises for the adverse impact this had on Lord Watson's family and has agreed to pay him substantial damages.

In addition, in 2011 News International received information that information was being passed covertly to Lord Watson from within News International. We now understand that this information was false, and Lord Watson was not in receipt of any such confidential information. NGN apologises fully and unequivocally for this.

 

[soapstar]

I’m actually surprised that Harry settled. He was so adamant about not settling, even when Hugh Grant and all the other claimants settled back in April. I wonder what changed?

 

[Magnolia471]

I’m actually surprised that Harry settled. He was so adamant about not settling, even when Hugh Grant and all the other claimants settled back in April. I wonder what changed?

He also criticized William for settling. Probably, he realized that he doesn't have enough money to continue with these court battles.

 

[Queen Claude]

Wow!!! In my previous post I mentioned that modest settlement and statement from NGN acknowledging wrongdoing, but it looks like he got a full and unequivocal apology with The Sun being named and a "substantial sum".

[QUOTE} It was the first time News Group Newspapers has acknowledged wrongdoing at The Sun, [...].

The statement itself was remarkable in breadth, acknowledging “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators” aimed at Harry, allegations NGN had strongly denied before trial.

https://apnews.com/article/prince-harry-hacking-lawsuit-rupert-murdoch-british-tabloid-88c61a08225269014224283c37225bf8[/QUOTE]

 

[soapstar]

Although Harry won an apology and significant amount from NGN, he unfortunately didn’t actually “slay the dragons.” He said that he didn’t want a settlement, he wanted to test his claims in court, but that’s not going to happen now. While this is a victory for Harry, it also must be a little disappointing.

From the BBC

The parties tell the judge that the settlement and apology means that a parallel part of the case, concerning overarching allegations of general and widespread unlawful behaviour and an alleged cover-up by NGN chiefs, will no longer go ahead.

That means that Prince Harry has won a significant apology but the unproven allegation that there was substantial wrongdoing by the CEO Rebekah Brooks and others will no longer be tested.

Brooks was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in 2014 ad NGN has always maintained there was no cover-up as the police investigated the News of the World in 2011.

He also criticized William for settling. Probably, he realized that he doesn't have enough money to continue with these court battles.

Yep, and now Harry’s also settling for an undisclosed amount.

 

[Ghost]

What annoys me is that Harry’s hijacking Diana. Again.