Hugh Grant makes feelings clear following Prince Harry settlement
Hugh Grant has called for a criminal investigation into News Group Newspapers (NGN) following Prince Harry’s recent settlement with the publisher.
The actor, who previously settled his own privacy claim against The Sun’s publisher last year, insists that civil lawsuits are “not the right instrument” to uncover the “real truth” of what occurred.
Grant made his demands during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, suggesting more decisive action is needed against the publisher.
His comments come in the immediate aftermath of Prince Harry’s settlement with the publisher of The Sun over allegations of illegal information gathering between 1996 and 2011.
Prince Harry’s original lawsuit accused NGN’s publications, The Sun and News of the World, of targeting him through illegal information-gathering methods.
The case was set to go to trial when NGN and the Duke of Sussex reached a settlement on January 22.
The publisher of the Sun issued a “full and unequivocal apology” as part of the settlement terms.
The agreement also included damages to be paid to Prince Harry.
However, the settlement notably did not include apologies from senior executives who were at the company during the period in question.
The case covered alleged illegal activities that took place between 1996 and 2011, during which time both The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World were under NGN’s ownership.
Grant criticised NGN’s approach to handling legal challenges, stating: “They’ve spent £1billion to make sure these things are never looked at in court – and you don’t get proper judicial findings.”
The actor suggested NGN fears proper judicial findings could trigger new criminal investigations.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Kate and William issue fresh statement and new video to mark major occasionZara and Mike open up about the joys of leaving the UKLady Kitty Spencer lifts lid on William following her father’s statement
He said: “A lot of the foot soldiers for those newspapers have now come over to our side… to say this is awful.”
Grant pointed out that while junior staff faced consequences, senior leadership remained unaffected: “We’ve been punished, we’ve been to prison, we’ve paid fines, we’ve lost our jobs. But the people who commanded all this, they’re still there.”
The actor also called for Britain’s Crown Protection Service to take action against the publisher.