Meghan felt 'unprotected' by royals while pregnant,

court documents show

Legal filings against Associated Newspapers say publication of private letter caused
‘tremendous’ distress

Caroline Davies
Wed 1 Jul 2020 23.22 BST

The Duchess of Sussex felt “unprotected” by the royal family from claims made in the UK
tabloid press against her while she was pregnant, court documents have revealed.

Meghan’s assertions were made in the latest submissions in her legal action against the Mail on
Sunday and Mail Online publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), over the publication
of extracts from a private handwritten letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

In legal filings, her lawyers said the duchess had “become the subject of a large number of false
and damaging articles by the UK tabloid media, specifically by the defendant [ANL] which
caused tremendous emotional distress and damage to her mental health”.

“As her friends had never seen her in this state before, they were rightly concerned for her
welfare, specifically as she was pregnant, unprotected by the institution, and prohibited from
defending herself.”
Meghan is suing the newspaper group for misuse of private information, breach of data
protection and copyright infringement after extracts published in February 2019 reproduced
parts of the letter she sent in August 2018.

ANL has said Markle shared the letter only after friends of Meghan gave an interview to US
People magazine, which he felt vilified him, and he wanted to show it was not the tender
missive they had suggested.

In response, Meghan’s lawyers claim she was not aware in advance that five friends had
spoken anonymously to People magazine, and that she was distressed that one had mentioned
the letter, and given an inaccurate account of its contents.

It was “mandated” by Kensington Palace “that all friends and family of [Meghan] should say
‘no comment’ when approached by any media outlet, despite misinformation being provided
to the UK tabloids about her,” the document states.

“This shared frustration amongst the claimant’s friends left everyone feeling silenced, as it
appeared that other so-called sources were able to disseminate false statements about the
claimant, while people who knew her best were told they needed to remain silent.

“The claimant believes that is probably because of this reason, as well as concerns about the
press intrusion by the UK tabloids, that a few friends chose to participate and they did so
anonymously”.

Meghan did not know which of her friends had participated “until well after the publication”,
the court documents state.

She had only discussed the contents of the letter with husband, Prince Harry, her mother,
Doria Ragland, one friend, the Kensington Palace communications team and her solicitors, it is
said. She had sent it via a trusted business manager to lessen chances of it being intercepted.

The documents claim Meghan denies blocking calls from her father after he failed to attend
her Windsor Castle wedding due to a cardiac condition or that she had changed her number. It
is said she tried to call him five times, and sent numerous texts, which went unanswered, after
learning of his health problems. It is also claimed her wedding to Harry raised “tourism
revenue of over £1bn”.

Last month Mr Justice Warby struck out allegations that the publisher had acted “dishonestly”
by leaving out certain passages of the letter. He also struck out allegations that the publisher
deliberately “stirred up” issues between Meghan and her father, and that it had an “agenda” of
publishing intrusive or offensive stories about her.

Since you're here ...

... we have a small favour to ask. Millions are flocking to the Guardian for quality news
every day. We believe everyone deserves access to factual information, and analysis that
has authority and integrity. That’s why, unlike many others, we made a choice: to keep
Guardian reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to
pay.
As an open, independent news organisation we investigate, interrogate and expose the
actions of those in power, without fear. With no shareholders or billionaire owner, our
journalism is free from political and commercial bias – this makes us different. We can
give a voice to the oppressed and neglected, and stand in solidarity with those who are
calling for a fairer future. With your help we can make a difference.
We’re determined to provide journalism that helps each of us better understand the
world, and take actions that challenge, unite, and inspire change – in times of crisis and
beyond. Our work would not be possible without our readers, who now support our
work from 180 countries around the world.
But news organisations are facing an existential threat. With advertising revenues
plummeting, the Guardian risks losing a major source of its funding. More than ever
before, we’re reliant on financial support from readers to fill the gap. Your support keeps
us independent, open, and means we can maintain our high quality reporting –
investigating, disentangling and interrogating.
Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable for our future. Support
the Guardian from as little as £1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

Support the Guardian

Topics
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Monarchy
Associated Newspapers
Newspapers & magazines
Privacy
Mail on Sunday
Mail Online
news