The judge said that MGN editors, including the high-profile former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, knew about these activities.

Morgan, a constant critic of Harry and his wife Meghan, has consistently denied any involvement in or knowledge of phone-hacking.

King Charles' younger son was awarded over $180,000 and, in a statement read by his lawyer David Sherborne, responded to the legal victory.

"My commitment to seeing this case through is based on my belief in our need and collective right to a free and honest press. And one which is properly accountable when necessary. [FLASH] I hope the court's findings will serve as a warning to all media organizations who have employed these practices and then similarly lied about them."

The prince also called for authorities to take action against those identified as having broken the law.

Harry was one of about 100 claimants - including actors and sports stars - who had sued MGN over claims of phone-hacking and unlawful information-gathering between 1991 and 2011.

And Judge Timothy Fancourt gave an excoriating conclusion that there had been widespread hacking and unlawful activities at MGN from 1996 until 2011.

He said it even carried on while a public inquiry into illicit practices at British newspapers was taking place.

The MGN case is just one of four Harry is pursuing at the High Court.

He has won the right to take to trial a similar phone-hacking case against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

Allegations of unlawful behavior by News Corp's News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun, will also go to trial.