‘A warning to all media organisations’: Prince Harry’s statement on Mirror Group ruling

Prince Harry has delivered a notable achievement in his fight against the British tabloid media by gaining a considerable win in his phone-hacking case and receiving compensation from the Daily Mirror. The legal representative for him announced this victory to the public outside the courtroom.

It is a fantastic day for honesty and responsibility. The judge has declared that illegal and criminal actions happened regularly and extensively for over ten years at all three of Mirror Group's newspapers (the Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, and the People).

I want to express my gratitude to my legal representatives. They did an exceptional job of disassembling the sworn statements given by the top-ranking officials, legal department, and reporters of Mirror Group Newspapers. These individuals did show up to court, which is unlike their coworkers who perhaps were too scared to attend.

This situation goes beyond mere hacking. It involves a pattern of illegal and despicable behavior that is ingrained in the system, accompanied by attempts to conceal the evidence and eliminate its traces. The enormity of this issue can only be exposed through legal proceedings.

The Mirror Group's top board members, legal team, high-ranking staff, and editors (including Piers Morgan) were aware of or participated in illegal activities, according to the court's verdict. They even went as far as lying under oath to Parliament and the Leveson inquiry, the stock exchange, and the general public since then.

Getting justice can be a lengthy and distressing experience, and ever since I filed my lawsuit nearly five years ago, untrue stories aimed at damaging my reputation and bullying methods have been used against me, taking a heavy toll on my loved ones as well. Thus, just like I've come to understand during this process, having the ability to remain patient is indeed a valuable trait to possess, particularly when dealing with vengeful journalism.

I wish that the court's decision will caution all media groups that have engaged in such practices and dishonesty. Mirror Group's behavior was deliberate and deceitful, and they continued to delete proof and hide their illegal activities even during the legal proceedings, as the judge has acknowledged, even to the present time.

I am delighted to have emerged victorious from the trial, despite it covering only a small portion of the overall claim I put forth. Even with this limited scope, the Mirror Group's repeated efforts to discredit me by calling my claim 'fantastical' and 'totally speculative', and insisting that there was no evidence that I was hacked, were baseless and intended only to harm my reputation. These false accusations have been exposed for what they truly were - meaningless and without any foundation whatsoever.

Yet, as Mirror Group aimed for, these empty phrases were widely publicized on the front pages and across the internet, and even mentioned on the following day's morning TV programs. The court has indeed verified that all four plaintiffs were victims of phone hacking and illegal data collection. However, considering how this trial was reported in the UK, it's unlikely that anyone would have believed this to be true.

I am determined to pursue this case because I strongly believe in the importance of a truthful and independent media, which must also be responsible for its actions. This is crucial not only in the UK but worldwide. Any other approach would harm the reputation of a profession that is vital to our society. The activities detailed in this ruling demonstrate the detrimental effects of a press that violates ethical standards.

I ask the higher-ups - the financial governing body, the stock market impaired by Mirror Group's purposeful deceit, alongside the Metropolitan police and legal officials - to do their job for the safety of the British people and probe into charging the corporation and individuals who have breached the law.

The judgment handed down today is a validation and confirmation. People have cautioned me that challenging powerful entities can be risky, but this triumph, coupled with the significance of fighting for an unbiased media, makes it a cost worth bearing. We will persist in our mission.