Daily Mirror faces £2m in legal costs over Prince Harry phone hacking
GuardianJan 31
Prince Harry Settles Daily Mirror Phone-Hacking Claim
Image copyright: Chris Jackson/Staff/Chris Jackson Collection via Getty Images
The Facts
Prince Harry has agreed to settle his phone-hacking case with Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), ending his legal battle with the Daily Mirror publisher; however, the Duke of Sussex vowed to continue his “mission” to hold the British media accountable for alleged invasive practices.
According to the settlement terms, MGN will pay the Duke of Sussex a "substantial" amount in damages in addition to his legal costs. In December, MGN was ordered to pay over £140K ($177K) to Harry for hacking his phone and indulging in "unlawful information gathering."
The Spin
Narrative A
Though Prince Harry has secured a significant victory against MGN, this settlement isn't about money; it's about a young man who has been deprived of privacy for his entire life pursuing justice against an invasive press. Leading British editors, media executives, and publishers completely tossed ethics aside to obtain any bits of information. Harry's noble quest hasn't ended with this settlement, and he will continue to fight against a rogue media.
Narrative B
After four long years, Prince Harry has finally settled his case with MGN, yet he continues to attack media executives for decades-old actions. Harry may be justified in his contempt for unscrupulous journalists who hacked his phone, but he shouldn't be attacking Piers Morgan and accusing him of knowing about improprieties from more than 20 years ago. Like everything Harry is involved with, this case has become about personal drama, distracting from his broader message.