Prince Harry has reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN), owned by Rupert Murdoch, over accusations of unlawful intrusion into his private life.

This development marks a significant moment in the Duke of Sussex's ongoing legal battle against British tabloid publishers.

NGN offered a 'full and unequivocal apology' to Prince Harry for the 'serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life,' acknowledging incidents of unlawful activities, including phone hacking and surveillance, by journalists and private investigators instructed by both The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

The media group has agreed to pay substantial damages to Prince Harry, reportedly amounting to between £10 million and £20 million, which also covers legal costs.

This settlement comes after Prince Harry accused NGN of employing more than 100 private investigators over 16 years, resulting in unlawful acts on more than 35,000 occasions.

The settlement was notably reached just as a five-year long legal action was set to commence in London’s High Court.

The apology and settlement represent the first time NGN has accepted unlawful wrongdoing at The Sun, having previously settled numerous claims related to the News of the World.

This landmark moment is especially poignant given that NGN has historically denied similar misconduct by The Sun despite numerous civil litigations.

NGN has previously dispensed over a billion pounds in payouts and legal costs, settling claims from approximately 1,300 individuals affected by unlawful practices.

Cases involving celebrities such as Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller, and Paul Gascoigne have been resolved in past settlements.

Tom Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, also settled his case with NGN, which involved claims of unwarranted surveillance while serving as a government minister.

Following the settlement, calls have been made for a police and parliamentary investigation into the unlawful activities confessed by NGN, as well as the alleged perjury and cover-ups during legal proceedings.

In a statement, Prince Harry's legal representative, David Sherborne, highlighted that NGN’s admissions validate the complaints of many claimants who were pressured into settling their cases without achieving a full disclosure of the unlawful acts perpetrated against them.

NGN maintained its stance by stressing that 'there was no voicemail interception at The Sun' and reiterated that strong controls are currently in place to prevent such activities.

Meanwhile, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service previously investigated similar misconduct, concluding with no charges.

This development exemplifies an impactful admission by one of Rupert Murdoch’s flagship UK operations, signifying a substantial shift in the media giant’s handling of such legal disputes.