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LONDON (REUTERS) – The London High Court on Friday (May 1) rejected part of a claim filed by the Duchess of Sussex of the United Kingdom, Meghan Markle, against a tabloid newspaper for violating her privacy, ruling that she had not acted dishonestly.
Queen Elizabeth’s grandson’s wife, Prince Harry, is suing Associated Newspapers for articles he published in the Mail on Sunday newspaper last year, which included parts of a letter he sent to his separated father Thomas Markle.
At a hearing last week, the newspaper’s attorney argued that the allegations that he had acted dishonestly, fueled the family rift and drove an agenda against the Duchess of Sussex by publishing offensive and false stories, should not be included.
“I agree that all three categories of allegations should be removed from the details of the claim,” Judge Mark Warby said in his ruling.
Since their star-studded wedding in May 2018, relations between some media outlets and Meghan and Harry, now living in the Los Angeles area, who left their royal roles in late March, have become increasingly hostile. .
Last week, the couple announced that they would have a “zero commitment” to four of Britain’s top tabloids, including the Daily Mail, accusing them of false and invasive coverage.
The privacy case centers on articles published by Mail on Sunday, February 2019 about the gap between Meghan and her father.
AGGRAVATED DAMAGES
Thomas Markle retired days before the wedding after undergoing heart surgery and after the news that he had photographed with a paparazzi photographer. Speculation about her attendance dominated the preparation of the ceremony and she has not spoken to Meghan since.
The duchess’s lawyers say the publication of her letter, which she wrote in August 2018, was a misuse of private information and violated her copyright. They seek aggravated harm.
As part of the claim, they had accused the Mail and other tabloids of harassing, humiliating and manipulating Thomas Markle, and of contributing to the consequences between him and his daughter.
The Mail justified the publication of the letter by saying that unidentified friends of Meghan had put their side of the events in interviews with the American magazine People and that Markle had the right to side with him.
He also argues that given Meghan’s real status, there was a legitimate public interest in her family relationships.
At last week’s hearing, which was conducted remotely via video link and which Meghan and Harry listened to, newspaper attorney Antony White said it was “remarkable” that the claim about Markle’s treatment had been made without the duchess contacting her herself. to see if he agreed.
Meghan’s lawyers said they were surprised that the judge thought dishonesty was an irrelevant factor, but added that the newspaper must still be responsible for publishing “a private, intimate, and handwritten letter” from the duchess.
“Today’s ruling makes it very clear that the core elements of this case do not change and will continue to move forward,” said a spokesman for the Schillings law firm.
He added: “The Duchess’s rights were violated; the legal boundaries around privacy were crossed. As part of this process, the extremes to which The Mail on Sunday used distorting, manipulative and dishonest tactics to attack the Duchess of Sussex they have been fully exhibited. ”
A date for the full test has not yet been set.
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