Meghan Markle has branded her own father a liar and denied she knew that some of her influential friends planned to reveal details of her deteriorating relationship with him to an American magazine, new court papers in London have revealed.
Markle is suing Associated Newspapers (publishers of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday and Metro) alleging invasion of privacy, breach of copyright and misuse of personal data over the publication of excerpts of a letter to her father about his treatment of her.
In the latest court documents submitted at the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of the hearing slated for this Friday, The Mail on Sunday is arguing that as a member of the royal family the Duchess did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
In a series of text messages from Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle, its shown how they questioned Thomas Markle’s reason for dropping out of their May 2018 wedding but continued to offer him protection and urged him not to talk to the press.
In one text Prince Harry says; ‘If u love Meg and want to make it right please call me’, and in another Meghan says; ‘Very concerned about your health and safety’. Thomas Markle feeling aggrieved says; ‘I’m sorry my heart attack is there any inconvenience for you’.
Meghan’s lawyers claim: ‘Mr Markle did not answer truthfully when asked about the photographs taken and staged by a paparazzo photographer…
‘Despite discovering that he had not told her the truth, with all the distress this caused her, the Claimant [Duchess of Sussex] was still focused on finding a way for him to travel to London safely [for her wedding], and the Claimant [Duchess of Sussex] tried to reassure her father that there was no ill feeling between them.’
‘It is admitted that People magazine, a US title, published articles based on interviews given by five unnamed friends of the Claimant in its 18 February 2019 hard copy and online edition and that these interviews contained the text quoted therein.
‘It is further admitted that in the course of these lengthy articles, a brief and passing reference was made to the Letter (as well as the response from the Claimant’s [Duchess of Sussex] father [Thomas Markle].
‘This reference was neither the main focus nor any substantial part of the articles.
‘Further, it did not contain the detailed contents of the Letter and insofar as it purported to summarise the Letter and the Claimant’s [Duchess of Sussex] purpose in sending it was completely wrong.’
The documents state: ‘In fact, the Claimant [Duchess of Sussex] did not know that a number of her friends agreed to give an interview about her to People magazine.
‘As she later discovered, following visits to see her in London at the beginning of 2019, some of her close circle of friends became extremely concerned at the aggressive attacks upon her in the media and the palpable and profound impact which this was having upon her, especially as she was vulnerable as well as heavily pregnant at the time.
‘As a result, one of her closest friends decided that they should help by arranging to give anonymous interviews to this American magazine whose Editor was a very good friend of hers in which they might explain what the Claimant [Duchess of Sussex] was truly like (as opposed to the tabloid portrayal of her).’
