LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry's case against Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group is due to return to court on Wednesday with the possibility the warring sides have thrashed out a last-minute deal to settle claims of widespread wrongdoing at the publisher.

A much anticipated trial pitting a crusading prince against a media giant ended before it began on Wednesday, when Prince Harry reached a last-minute settlement with Rupert Murdoch’s British media group that included a “substantial” sum and a “full and unequivocal apology.

The Duke of Sussex has not yet flown over to the UK to appear in person at the trial, in his legal action against the publishers of The Sun.

Prince Harry has settled his privacy lawsuit with Rupert Murdoch owned papers. The publisher will pay him substantial damages.

Prince Harry has broken his silence after settling his court case with News Group Newspaper. The Duke of Sussex's barrister issued a new statement on behalf of the royal outside the court following the news that a settlement had been reached and that the case would no go to trial.

Harry and a former lawmaker are suing News Group Newspapers over alleged unlawful activities carried out by journalists and private investigators working for its papers.

Prince Harry's mission to put the British tabloids on trial for decades of alleged unlawful snooping into his life was in question Tuesday as last-minute settlement talks delayed the start of a high-stakes trial pitting him against Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers.