The publisher of the Mail on Sunday has won the first High Court skirmish in the Duchess of Sussex’s privacy claim against it over publication of a letter to her estranged father.
In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Warby struck out parts of Meghan’s case, following an application by Associated Newspapers at a hearing last week.
However, the judge said those parts of the duchess’s case may be revived at a later stage if they are put on a proper legal basis.
The judge said: “Some of the allegations are struck out as irrelevant to the purpose for which they are pleaded.
“Some are struck out on the further or alternative ground that they are inadequately detailed.
“I have also acted so as to confine the case to what is reasonably necessary and proportionate for the purpose of doing justice between these parties.
“I do not consider that the allegations struck out on that basis go to the ‘heart’ of the case, which at its core concerns 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.
“Some aspects of the case that I have struck out at this stage may be revived if they are put in proper form.”
In a statement issued after the ruling, a spokesperson for law firm Schillings, which is representing Meghan, said: “Today’s ruling makes very clear that the core elements of this case do not change and will continue to move forward.
“The duchess’ rights were violated; the legal boundaries around privacy were crossed."
