The High Court trial involving Prince Harry’s legal case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), publishers of The Sun and the defunct News of the World, has been delayed as both parties engage in last-minute settlement discussions.
The Duke of Sussex, along with Lord Watson, remains among the final claimants in a long-standing legal battle accusing NGN of unlawful practices, including phone hacking.
While the trial was set to commence on Tuesday morning, both sides requested additional time to negotiate, resulting in a brief adjournment granted by Justice Fancourt.
Reports suggest the delay may be linked to a potential settlement offer from NGN aimed at resolving the case out of court.
Prince Harry has consistently stated his focus is on accountability and justice for victims of alleged media misconduct, rather than financial compensation.
NGN has denied wrongdoing related to the claims and has only acknowledged phone hacking at the News of the World.
Despite this, the publisher has settled with over 1,300 claimants in similar cases, avoiding trials in all instances.
English law incentivises out-of-court settlements, as rejecting a reasonable offer can lead to claimants covering both parties’ legal fees if awarded damages fall short of the proposed settlement.
This risk may influence the outcome of the ongoing negotiations.
The trial’s next steps remain uncertain, with both legal teams preparing submissions for the Court of Appeal after Justice Fancourt declined to grant further delays.
As Prince Harry continues to deliberate from California, a resolution could potentially reshape the trajectory of this high-profile legal battle.
