An ex-staffer claims Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were involved in backchannel talks with the book Finding Freedom despite claims to the contrary, a court has heard.
Published in August 2020, Finding Freedom is a biography by two royal journalists which recounts the royal couple's beginnings and eventual departure as working members of the royal family.
Their former communications secretary Jason Knauf alleges that the royal couple provided background information for the book via meetings he took with its authors.
The Court of Appeal heard today that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "authorised specific cooperation in writing in December 2018" to the authors of the biography.
Knauf, who was communications secretary to Meghan and Harry until March 2019, gave evidence on day two of a three day hearing.
He says "the book was discussed directly with the Duchess multiple times in person and over email" and that Meghan gave him "helpful" written "background reminders" briefing notes.
Knauf says that in an email: "The Duchess…added the briefing points she wanted me to share with the authors in my meeting with them."
And, in a December 2018 email to the aide, Knauf says Prince Harry wrote: "I totally agree we have to be able to say we didn’t have anything to do with it.
"Equally, you giving the right context and background to them would help get some truths out there…especially around Markle/wedding stuff…"
However, royals have openly collaborated with writers on authorised biographies, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
For example, Prince Charles worked with author Jonathan Dimbleby on a 1994 biography, allowing him long interviews and access to thousands of private letters and diaries.
The Prince of Wales covered childhood bullying he received and his strained marriage with Princess Diana.
The court also heard that the handwritten letter from Meghan to her estranged father was "drafted with the understanding that it could be leaked", according to Knauf.
He said the texts included an early draft of the letter and that Meghan had written: "Obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked so I have been meticulous in my word choice, but please do let me know if anything stands out for you as a liability."
He added: "On the specific issue of the letter, the duchess indicated in messages to me that she recognised that it was possible that Mr Markle would make the letter public."
Meghan sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), which is also the publisher of MailOnline, over a series of articles which reproduced parts of a "personal and private" letter to Mr Markle in August 2018.
She claimed the five articles, published in print and online in February 2019, misused her private information, infringed her copyright and breached the Data Protection Act.
She won her case earlier this year after Lord Justice Warby ruled that ANL's publication of her letter to her father was "manifestly excessive and hence unlawful" in a summary judgment - avoiding the need for a trial.
The publisher's appeal is being heard by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Dame Victoria Sharp and Lord Justice Bean over three days, and the judges are expected to give their ruling at a later date.
