Was Prince Harry really victorious in his £10m courtroom case? Richard Eden says it was actually a ‘huge victory for the lawyers’ who have ‘made a fortune’ in the long-running battle, as the panel discuss the fallout on PALACE CONFIDENTIAL

The royal world has been left reeling this week after Prince Harry dramatically decided to settle his long-running case against The Sun’s publisher for around £10million.

In a move that was widely seen as a victory, News Group Newspapers (NGN) offered an ‘unreserved apology’ to the Duke of Sussex for using private investigators to snoop on him. 

It was a theatrical end to Harry’s long-running legal battle, as the publisher admitted private investigators used by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 had used unlawful methods to find out information about him. 

It is understood Harry may have to use the ‘majority’ of his substantial payout on his lawyers’ fees. 

When asked if he thought the settlement was a victory for Harry on Mail+’s YouTube show Palace Confidential, The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden said: ‘I don’t know.

‘He is saying it is a victory and yes, it is a huge victory for the lawyers. As always in these cases, they have made a fortune. Is it a victory for Harry? I am not so sure.

‘The whole point of it was that Harry was going to expose these people, get them in court, show how they did all this wrong… and then he settled for the money. 

‘But he said it wasn’t about the money, so I think if it was a victory, it is very much a pyrrhic one.’

On Mail+’s YouTube show Palace Confidential, The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden claimed Harry’s case against The Sun’s publisher was a ‘huge victory for the lawyers’

In the case, Harry was represented by the barrister David Sherborne – who dramatically read out a statement following the settlement

It is understood Harry’s payout is in excess of £10million, but he will have to use the ‘majority’ of this sum to pay his lawyers’ fees 

Watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential here: 

The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English said the last-minute deal was struck at the ‘eleventh hour’, just before the case was about to begin. 

After the settlement, barrister Mr Sherborne declared outside the high court ‘this historic admission of guilt’ had been achieved ‘only through the sheer resilience of Prince Harry’. 

Harry had previously vowed not to settle the six-year case out of court, insisting he was ‘the last person’ who could achieve a courtroom showdown with the newspaper group.

Elsewhere in the show, the discussion turned to Vanity Fair’s 8,000-word expose on Harry in Meghan, which outlined more claims surrounding the difficult working environment for staff who have worked for them. 

Rebecca labelled the article a ‘disaster’ for the couple and said it was ‘putting flesh on the bones of what the British media has been saying for years’ surrounding claims around Meghan’s bullying and Harry’s nature to not know what he wants to do.

She continued: ‘One of the most surprising claims, and there has been no comment on this, was that Meghan actually discussed a book deal if she was ever to divorce Prince Harry. 

Palace Confidential host Jo Elvin then quipped: ‘It is hard to imagine a British publication coming up with that one.’

Rebecca then replied: ‘Because they would get a flurry of legal letters from the Sussexes. I would be fascinated to know if Vanity Fair has.’ 

Elsewhere in the show, the discussion turned to Vanity Fair’s 8,000-word expose on Harry in Meghan, which outlined more claims surrounding the difficult working environment for staff who have worked for them

A source close to the couple told The Times that the couple have dismissed the allegations in the Vanity Fair article as ‘distressing’ 

Rebecca labelled the Vanity Fair article a ‘disaster’ for the couple and said it was ‘putting flesh on the bones of what the British media has been saying for years’ surrounding claims around Meghan’s bullying and Harry’s nature to not know what he wants to do 

And although a source close to the couple told The Times that the couple have dismissed the allegations as ‘distressing’, Rebecca notes they ‘have not come out all guns blazing’ and ‘people will certainly read into that’.

Richard then added one aspect of the article that stood out to him was that Harry ‘seemed to have no concept of the damage he had done’ as he seems optimistic about speaking to his family again, despite his damaging accusations against them.

The show also discussed the claims that now Donald Trump is back in the White House, it could mean trouble for Harry’s US visa.

Harry moved to Montecito with Meghan and Archie in 2020 but his 2023 memoir Spare reveals he took cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms as a younger man.

Visa applicants must by law declare whether they have taken drugs, and some commentators suggest that Trump’s administration could take a different view to Biden’s on disclosing these details.

The show also discussed the news, first exclusively revealed by Rebecca in the Daily Mail on Saturday, that Catherine, Princess of Wales, made a secret trip to the Royal Marsden hospital before Christmas.

She quietly popped in to the specialist cancer care centre just before Christmas during an ‘under the radar’ festive visit to give doctors and nurses hand-picked festive gifts and treats. 

It was the London hospital where she had secretly undergone her own chemotherapy treatment.   

The panel also discussed the news that the Princess of Wales has toured two elite north London day schools – sparking rumours Prince George could be educated at one of them

Prince William wore a pair of boxing gloves during his visit to Centrepoint, a charity which supports homeless youth, in west London on Tuesday, January 21

The panel discussed the news that the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten (left), has pointed out that Prince Andrew (right) may have been treated unfairly over the row surrounding the alleged Chinese spy

Elsewhere in the show, the panel discussed that Kate went along with her family on a private ski trip, showing she is getting well again. 

The panel also spoke about the news, first revealed by the Editor at Large for the Mail on Sunday Charlotte Griffiths, that Kate had been seen visiting two more secondary schools in north London as she continues to search for a school for Prince George.   

There was also chat about Prince William’s visit to a charity for homeless youth in west London, where he showcased his boxing skills.

And the panel discussed the news that the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, has pointed out that Prince Andrew may have been treated unfairly over the row surrounding the alleged Chinese spy.

Mr Patten said he was a ‘hapless victim’ in the proceedings, as his defenders point out that he been introduced to the contact through official channels.

Towards the end of the show, the panel also discussed how Princess Sophie’s fashion choices have developed over the years as she celebrates her 60th birthday.

The royal experts then revealed their unsung royal hero of the week. 

To hear all the insights from the team of unrivalled royal experts, watch the full 43-minute-long show on YouTube now.