Harry v NGN 2

[mainecooncatonahottinroof]

I don't think we're done talking - and I never start threads!

As you were!

We don't really know how big the pay out was. The figures being bandied about are mere rumour.

And a settlement was always on the table. NGN have settled out of court countless times, paying out up to £1 billion in compensation. So this is nothing new. Had the case gone to trial it would have been at the very least embarrassing for them, but I hardly think Harry would have come out unscathed either. It was in the interests of both parties to settle, but the fact is that Harry had been publicly resisting this until as recently as last month.

I know what you mean @Andtheweaselgoespop56 but, the thing is, Harry is acting as if he has brought about this payout with his immense bravery and courage. NGN has made about a £billion in payouts.

I think NGN did behave in a way that was ethically and legally wrong. I'm glad Harry has had a payout alongside his brother, Hugh Grant, Tom Watson, Sienna Miller and most especially the Dowling family and many, many countless others. It's just that I am unable to think of it as Harry's mighty victory over NGN. More like, he's one of a crowd of people who were wronged and he took the noisest and most drama-filled way of reaching the same resolution. Which would appear to be entirely in character.

Is there a reason Harry didn't come to the UK for this? I would have thought he would have relished his settlement?

I don’t see why he should give it away.

That, or there simply isn't much more left to be said?

Till Harry's done talking other folk or the press won't be either. And Harry will never be done talking. Or Meghan.

@pelargoniums Harry was a bit indiscreet after his visit to see Charles after he announced he had cancer. I remember footage of him talking whilst on a trip to Canada about how illness can bring families together. But you are right that the general trend from him has been to talk less about his extended family. Maybe he is hoping to rebuild some bridges but is not yet ready to apologise for his part in it or doesn't know where to begin.

NGN were always prepared to pay out. They wouldn't have paid more than they were ever willing to. And the settlement will still cost less than a long court case would have.

Daily Mail have Harold on a £10m wedge but most of it going to the bouffant lawyer plus team.

Just as well dragon slaying isn't his day job 😁

He has no reason to. But his brother did. Hugh Grant did. IMO they did that because it was never about the money for them, it was about doing the right thing.

But no one is obligated to do it.

Exactly!

Totally OT, but I was enthralled by that bouffant yesterday. Is natural? The colour can't be, but I just couldn't stop looking at it. It seemed more bouffant than previously, or had I just not paid attention before?

I don't have particularly strong feelings about Harry (or Meghan) unless you count amused irritation and zero respect as strong? I view them now akin to the Kardashians

That is unfair on the Kardashians, they have been exceptionally financially successful.

It seemed more bouffant than previously, or had I just not paid attention before?

It was absolutely a magnificent mane. Much titivated for the occasion I'd imagine 😁

We will never know how much the settlement was (and nor should we) nor will we ever know how much is ever donated to charity (and nor should we). I'm relieved that he decided not to have his 'day in court' mainly because it won't be headline news every time I open a paper.

As an aside, I've tried to pinpoint why I'm so easily irritated by them both - all I'm left with is that they come across (to me anyway) as Mr and Mrs Too-Bloody-Smug and would benefit from a dollop of humility 😏 I don't, however, know them.....

Well yes because NGN are one of the few news organisations with the necessary resources available to fight on until the end. Resources which they had gleaned in many instances by accessing information in allegedly illegal and inappropriate ways.

It was still a very significant pay out which held them to account.

It would also have been a very bad look if their chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, had had to appear in the dock. I can’t help wondering what an in-depth trial would have exposed?

Tbf I wouldn't judge if he kept it. The intrusion was to him.

The Washington post has an interesting article. However, the writer clearly doesn’t know that Harry will never grow up:

https://archive.ph/XCFRz

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/22/prince-harry-lawsuit-settlement/

I have zero interest in what Harry does with his money.

It would also have been a very bad look if their chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, had had to appear in the dock. I can’t help wondering what an in-depth trial would have exposed?

Witness in civil trials don’t “appear in the dock”. They give their evidence from the witness stand.

But Rebekah has already been charged and prosecuted for the activities of News of The World. So she has already been questioned in the dock. Somewhat surprisingly, she was acquitted. She was prepared to tell the jury and the court that she knew nothing about anything any one did while she was editor - clearly she decided that confessing to incompetence was a better outcome than confessing to knowledge of criminality. I expect if she had given evidence int his hearing we would have had more of the same.

(the joke of it all was that having publicly confessed to being a completely incompetent editor at NOTW, she was of course next given a job as editor of The Sun…but in terms of it being a bad look for the Sun if she had been questioned now, they had obviously already that particular storm)

I wonder if his fees are so high because he has a mahoosive bill for all his hair products 🤔

I for one will miss the chance of hearing Harry on the stand mourning the loss of his relationship with Chelsy Davey once again.

Chelsy is probably quite pleased that H won't be telling 'his truth' about their long-finished relationship, to be splashed all over the front pages.

All of H's exes have been discreet. But H doesn't seem bothered about intruding on their privacy.

In his interview last month with Sorkin at The New York Times Deal Book Summit - Harry said that his upcoming security court case was in order to facilitate reconciliation.

Maybe he is hoping to rebuild some bridges but is not yet ready to apologise for his part in it or doesn't know where to begin.

My understanding was that once PH had got everything off his chest - OW, NF, Spare - he was waiting for an apology from them and then he would reconcile?

Thanks for the new thread, @mainecooncatonahottinroof

BTW you were very kind last night, but don't let it worry you; I'm almost impossible to offend and don't respond to rudeness anyway ... here's hoping the latest thread can be kept free of it