Meghan Markle Loses the First In A Legal Battle With Newspaper Over Publication Of Private Letter To Her Father

Meghan Markle lost the first in a series of legal battles with the British media over the publication of her private letter to her father, Thomas Markle. Meghan thought she could win this battle, especially since she enlisted the help of Princess Diana’s legal team. But she lost the first in a long legal battle against Associated Newspapers after London’s High Court as part of her privacy case.

The Duchess of Sussex contested two articles in the Mail on Sunday, including three articles published by MailOnline back in February 2019, which published the contents of her private letter to her estranged father, according to Independent. The British media’s lawyers argued during the preliminary hearing last week. The publishers believe that the allegations that it acted dishonestly and created the family rift should be removed from the case.

In a ruling on Friday, May 1, Justice Mark Warby agreed to remove the parts of Meghan’s claims, including the allegations that the publication acted “dishonestly” by leaving out certain parts of the letter. She also claimed that the British publishers “stirred up” family drama and created an “agenda” of publishing offensive stories about her. Both of those allegations were also thrown out.

Justice Warby claimed the allegations should not be a part of her case because they are “irrelevant” to her claim for copyright infringement, breach of the Data Protection Act, and claim for misuse of private information.

“Some are struck out on the further or alternative ground that they are inadequately detailed,” Justice Warby said.

“I do not consider that the allegations struck out on that basis go to the ‘heart’ of the case, which at its core concerns on the publication of five articles disclosing the words of, and information drawn from, the letter written by the claimant to her father in August 2018.”

However, the parts of her case could be revisited at a later time, if they are included in a proper legal basis. Meghan is currently seeking damages for breach of the Data Protection Act, copyright infringement, and alleged misuse of private information – all allegations that the publications deny.

Associated Newspapers denies the allegations, including the claim that the letter was edited in any way to change its meaning, and announced that it will contest the case. This may not look well for Meghan Markle.