Rebekah Brooks and former Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson have both condemned the decision of the CPS to charge them over phone hacking.
The former News of the World employees are among eight people who will be charged, the CPS confirmed on Tuesday.
Following news of the action, Brooks insisted she was innocent saying she was "distressed and angry" at the decision.
"The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime," she said. "I will vigorously defend these allegations."
The ex-chief executive of News International will face two charges - one relating to the alleged accessing of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone messages.
Brooks has denied the charges of phone hacking
Coulson, who edited the News of the World from 2003 to 2007, will face four charges linked to accusations of accessing the phone messages of Milly Dowler, former Labour ministers David Blunkett and Charles Clarke, and George Best's son Calum Best.
He said in a statement: "I am extremely disappointed by the CPS decision today. I will fight these allegations when they eventually get to court.
"I would like to say one thing today about the Milly Dowler allegation. Anyone who knows me, or who worked with me, would know that I wouldn't, and more importantly that I didn't, do anything to damage the Milly Dowler investigation.
The News of the World's former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, news editors Greg Miskiw and Ian Edmondson, chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and reporter James Weatherup are also due to face charges over phone hacking.
All of them apart from Mulcaire will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority between 3 October, 2000 and 9 August, 2006.
In a statement released through his solicitor Henri Brandman, Thurlbeck said he was "surprised and disappointed" that he will face prosecution.
He said: "I have always operated under the strict guidance and advice of News International's lawyers and under the instructions of the newspaper's editors, which will be abundantly clear when this matter comes to court.
"I will vigorously fight to clear my reputation."
SCROLL DOWN FOR A GALLERY OF ALLEGED HACKING VICTIMS
At least 600 people are believed to be victims of phone hacking, including a raft of celebrities.
The CPS said they included: Delia Smith, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abi Titmuss, John Leslie, Wayne Rooney, Calum Best, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Sienna Miller, Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills to former Home Secretaries David Blunkett and Charles Clarke and former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott.
Three people on police bail over phone hacking allegations have not been charged. The decision relating to two others has been deferred on police advice.
Eleven journalists and one non-journalist were due to answer police bail on Tuesday. When the eight who are facing prosecution do so they will be charged.
Once police have contacted all the alleged victims, a list will be made available, she said.
SEE ALSO:
Rebekah Brooks 'Distressed And Angry' By Milly Dowler Phone Hacking Charge
Delia Smith, Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Alleged Phone Hacking Targets
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