Prince Harry has settled the remaining claims of his phone hacking case against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), his barrister has told the court.
David Sherborne, for the Duke of Sussex, said the media group will pay Harry “a substantial additional sum by way of damages” as well as his legal costs.
He said the media group – which includes The Daily and Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – will make an interim payment toward the costs of around £400,000, with further payments to be assessed.
Previously, Harry won 15 claims in December 2023 which accused the newspaper group of unlawfully gathering information, and he was awarded £140,600 in damages.
Mr Sherborne told the judge that MGN accepted a deal to pay the Duke’s damages as well as “all of the costs of his claim, including individual and common costs”.
In Friday’s hearing, the judge ruled that the group had been involved in “extensive” phone hacking techniques on a “widespread and habitual basis”.
Delivering a statement outside the court on behalf of the royal, Mr Sherborne said the Mirror group has “finally conceded” the rest of his claim but added that his “mission” over how the press operates continues.
“Everything we said was happening at Mirror group was in fact happening, and indeed far worse as the court ruled in its extremely damning judgment,” he told reporters.
Reading a statement from Harry outside the central London court, Mr Sherborne said: “Everything we said was happening at Mirror Group was in fact happening, and indeed, far worse, as the court ruled in an extremely damaging judgment.
“As the judge has said only this morning, we have uncovered and proved the shockingly dishonest way in which the Mirror acted for so many years, and then sought to conceal the truth.”
The Duke criticised former Mirror editor Morgan, who he said “as editor, knew perfectly well what was going on, as the judge held”.
He also hit out at what he said was Morgan’s “contempt for the court’s ruling” and “continued attacks” against him and called on the authorities “to uphold the rule of law and to prove that no one is above it”.
Harry continued: “As I said back in December, our mission continues.
“I believe in the positive change it will bring for all of us. It is the very reason why I started this, and why I will continue to see it through to the end.”
Mr Morgan denies claims he was aware of the phone hacking.
Following the ruling and Harry’s statement, Mr Morgan posted on X: “I totally agree with Prince Harry that ruthless intrusion into the private lives of the Royal Family for financial gain is utterly reprehensible… and I hope he stops doing it.”
After Mr Justice Fancourt’s judgment in December about the extent of unlawful information gathering at Mirror group titles, Mr Morgan criticised the duke, describing him as “a guy who’s repeatedly trashed his family in public for hundreds of millions of dollars, even as two of its most senior and respected members were dying – his grandparents”.
The broadcaster added: “He also says he’s on a mission to reform the media, when it’s become clear his real mission, along with his wife, is to destroy the British monarchy.”
The Duke of Sussex did not attend court on Friday as he flew back to his home in the US after visiting his father, King Charles, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The BBC reported that MGN’s legal bill could be around £2m overall, although this has not been confirmed.
A total of 33 articles in Harry’s claim were examined during the trial – and 15 were found to have been the outcome of unlawful information gathering such as phone hacking or blagging.
The judge told MGN that it has to pay costs relating to parts of the case brought by former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, Fiona Wightman, Paul Whitehouse’s former spouse, and Coronation Street actor Michael Turner.
He told the court that all three successfully proved the “shocking” and “dishonest” way MGN acted and said the firm would have to pay for the part of the case covering the general claims of unlawful activity.
However, all three claimants have to pay their individual legal costs.
The judge added that there are still 100 other claimants waiting to hear the verdict.
During the hearing, MGN asked for 14 days to “consider” the judgement, which was granted, meaning there could be an application to the Court of Appeal.
Mirror Group Newspapers welcomed the settlement with Prince Harry and “apologised unreservedly” for the historical wrongdoing.
A spokesperson said: “We welcomed December’s judgment that gave the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago. Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid compensation.”
They added: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which gives our business further clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago and for which we have apologised.”