Meghan Markle's half-sister is suing her after alleging she lied about her upbringing in her now legendary chat with Oprah Winfrey.
Samantha Markle has made a claim to court that Meghan defamed her, and told untruths about her and the family in her interview last March.
Meghan's lawyer says the lawsuit is “baseless and absurd” and added it would receive “the minimum attention necessary”.
Acting on behalf of the Duchess of Sussex, Michael Kump said: "This baseless and absurd lawsuit is just a continuation of a pattern of disturbing behaviour. We will give it the minimum attention necessary, which is all it deserves."
Samantha, whose father is also Meghan's dad, claims her “rags to royalty” tale is “false”.
She asserts that Meghan “fabricated” her background story and told these untruths to the Royal Family, and the media through interviews.
Samantha, 57, says that Meghan had a “premeditated campaign to destroy” the reputations of her and her father.
She also claimed Meghan attempted to ruin their credibility so “they could not interfere with or contradict the false narrative and fairy tale life story concocted by the defendant”
In the papers she also alleges that Meghan told lies when she said to Oprah that she “essentially raised herself from virtual poverty” and was forced to have low-paying jobs to “make ends meet” when she was 13.
Meghan has also claimed she had no siblings, little contact with her half brother and sister and that her family could only afford the £3.75 salad in the lawsuit, which Samantha also states are incorrect.
She also denies Meghan’s allegation that they only met “a handful of times” and that she “never had a relationship with” her or their dad.
Meghan told Oprah she had not seen her half-sister in "at least 18, 19 years."
The lawsuit, which was filed in Tampa, Florida, asserts: “This is false. Samantha spent time with defendant on a regular basis throughout her childhood and even lived in the same apartment house with defendant for a period of time.
“Samantha picked up Meghan from school; took Meghan for ice cream and to the mall regularly, and spent many family holidays with the defendant.
“Meghan's father was Meghan's primary caregiver and Meghan and Samantha saw each other regularly.”
It continues: “This is an attempt by Meghan to create the false impression that Meghan was essentially an only child with no contact with other family members, or as Meghan stated on Oprah, that she had 'no siblings'.
“Meghan apparently wanted to convince the public that her family members knew nothing about her life and, thus, were not qualified to contradict the false narrative Meghan had fabricated about her life.”
Samantha is seeking $75,000 (£56,500) from the Duchess and has asked for a trial by jury.
The Sussexes have previously brought an action against the Mail on Sunday over a letter Meghan wrote to her father, Thomas Markle.
Harry, 37, also has a case against the Home Office over UK police protection for himself and his family.
And he is also suing the Mail on Sunday over another article.
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