Hugh Grant Joins Prince Harry To Call For New Investigation Into Rupert Murdoch's U.K. Tabloids

Hugh Grant is urging a criminal investigation into Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers following Prince Harry's legal victory, which resulted in a significant settlement.

Grant, who also settled with NGN, criticized the civil suit, claiming it doesn't uncover the truth, and called for further action.

Prince Harry's lawyer, David Sherborne, has also called for the authorities to investigate News Group Newspapers, the parent company.

After Harry's win, Grant has asked the authorities to launch a criminal probe into Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers.

The Duke of Sussex had previously accused the publisher of illegal information-gathering activities between 1996 and 2011, alleging that journalists from The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World targeted him during that period.

On January 22, Harry reached an agreement with NGN, which involved an undisclosed, eight-figure financial settlement and a "full and unequivocal apology" from the publisher.

However, the settlement did not extend to apologies from senior executives who were involved at the time.

Grant, who also reached a settlement with NGN over a privacy claim last year, insists that further action is necessary.

According to People Magazine, he emphasized that while the settlement was a step forward, the job is "not done by any means."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, Grant argued that a civil lawsuit was "not the right instrument" to uncover the whole truth about the events at News Group Newspapers.

He explained, "That's what they've done consistently over the last 10 years. They've spent £1 billion to make sure these things are never looked at in court … and you don't get proper judicial findings."

Grant added, "I think what they're terrified of is that those findings would trigger a new criminal inquiry."

The "Heretic" actor further pointed out that "a lot of the foot soldiers for those newspapers have now come over to our side […] to say this is awful. 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."

Grant also called on the British Crown Prosecution Service to take action against NGN.

According to People, sources claimed Harry's settlement exceeds $12 million, compensating him for allegations of illegal information gathering by journalists and private investigators.

While speaking outside the London High Court on behalf of Harry, lawyer David Sherborne called for a police inquiry into the newspaper.

Sherborne discussed the significant personal toll the case has taken on Harry and his family.

"In a monumental victory today, News UK has admitted that The Sun, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch's U.K. media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices," Sherborne said. "This represents a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling, without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them."

Sherborne also condemned News Group Newspapers for years of resistance, paying out over a billion pounds in settlements and legal fees to suppress the full extent of the wrongdoing.

He praised the accountability now established, noting, "News UK is finally held to account for its illegal actions and its blatant disregard for the law."

"It has also specifically admitted wrongdoing against Tom Watson, and admitted unlawful acts by The Sun, as well as by the News of the World, against Prince Harry," he added.

Alongside reaching a settlement with the "Spare" author, NGN also apologized for their actions.

They admitted to being guilty of the accusation, a 180 from their previous stance of denying wrongdoing.

"NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun," read a statement from the company, per People.

It further read, "NGN also offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators instructed by them at the News of the World."

The company also apologized for "the impact on him of the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life," including that of his mother, Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

Former Labour deputy leader Lord Watson commended Harry for his leadership throughout the case, highlighting the duke's courage and determination.

"His bravery and astonishing courage have brought accountability to a part of the media world that thought it was untouchable," he remarked. "I am sure I speak on behalf of the thousands of victims when I say we are grateful to him for his unwavering support and his determination under extraordinary pressure."

Watson then called for Murdoch to "follow this corporate admission of guilt with a personal apology to Prince Harry, to his father our King, and to the countless others who've suffered the same unlawful behavior at the hands of his media empire."