A day to mark Prince Harry’s historic victory over Rupert Murdoch – and to survey the awful toll on public life | Jane Martinson

Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers has spent 1bn and counting over the past 15 years to settle 1,300 complaints alleging phone hacking and other unlawful activities.

Harry was never in it for the cash. He previously said he was likely to lose money if the trial went ahead.

But he may also be disappointed that the settlements cuts his challenge short.

The language from Harry ’s camp today is unequivocal: “ Today the lies are laid bare. Today , the cover-ups are exposed. And today proves that no one stands above the law. The time for accountability has arrived.” So there is a victor and a vanquished here. But still, unquestionably, we have all lost. - Jane Martinson is a Guardian columnist.