Meghan argues she thought it “incredibly unlikely” her father would leak the letter
(Picture: Getty Images for Intrepid Sea)The Duchess of Sussex faced further scrutiny in the High Court on Thursday after it emerged she rejected a royal family plan for her to confront her father personally over fears of a “media frenzy”.
Meghan, 40, issued an apology on Wednesday for misleading the court over her involvement with a biography, Finding Freedom, having previously insisted she had not collaborated with the authors.
Her former communications secretary Jason Knauf revealed she had “authorised specific co-operation” over the book and provided a detailed list of talking points.
Meghan sued Associated Newspapers Ltd, publishers of the Mail on Sunday, after extracts of a letter to her father, Thomas Markle, appeared in print.
She insisted the note was “personal and private”, but the newspaper group argues Meghan knew it was likely to be leaked. Mr Knauf said she told him: “Obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked.”
Meghan argues she thought it “incredibly unlikely” her father would leak the letter, but she prepared for the possibility.
The duchess also revealed how senior royals had urged her to fly to Mexico to confront her father over his leaks to the press but she resolved to send a letter instead. Meghan suggested the plan would have caused a “frenzy of media attention and intrusion”.
Court of Appeal judges were hearing arguments from Meghan’s legal team today and are expected to deliver their ruling at a later date.
The High Court ruled earlier this year that the publication of the letter was unlawful, entering summary judgment for Meghan and avoiding the need for a trial. But Associated Newspapers is challenging that ruling at the Court of Appeal, arguing the case should go to a trial on Meghan’s claims including breach of privacy and copyright.
