For the publishers of the Sun, “sorry” is not the hardest word, but it is an expensive one. Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers has issued “a full and unequivocal apology” to Prince Harry for “serious intrusions” into his private life, including “unlawful activities”. For the first time it acknowledged that these were carried out by people working for the Sun – albeit private investigators rather than its journalists – as well as saying sorry for phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by those working for the News of the World, which closed owing to the scandal.
Substantial damages are being paid to the prince, adding to the Murdoch empire’s total bill for settlement of around 1,300 cases, which is thought to have exceeded £1bn. Prince Harry has also previously won damages from Mirror Group newspapers.
