The Duchess of Sussex has said she was “unprotected by the institution” of the Royal Family during her pregnancy.
And she claims her wedding to Prince Harry generated £1billion of tourism revenue.
Meghan, 38, named for the first time five friends who criticised her dad, Thomas, after they fell out before her May 2018 nuptials.
In papers submitted to the High Court, Meghan says she was prevented from defending herself and friends were “rightly concerned for her welfare, specifically as she was pregnant”, with son Archie.
She is suing Associated Newspapers Limited, owner of The Mail On Sunday, over five articles, which included parts of a handwritten note to Thomas in August 2018.
Meghan claims her dad’s decision to make the letter public breached her privacy, copyright and data protection rights.
It emerged in confidential papers Meghan had identified friends who spoke anonymously to People magazine.
Meghan said she “did not know about the interview having been given, and only found out about it, and any reference to the Letter, after the People magazine article was published”, last February.
The piece described the friends as “Meghan’s inner circle – a longtime friend, a former co-star, a friend from LA, a one-time colleague and a close confidante”.
They are detailed as friends A, B, C, D and E in redacted documents but named in confidential papers submitted to the court.
Legal experts predict the associates could be called to testify during a trial expected at the end of the year or early 2021 over whether Meghan did know about their plan to speak to People.
The documents state: “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.”
Documents claim the wedding raised £1billion, which “far outweighed” the contribution of taxpayers towards security.
This figure has been doubted by consulting firm Brand Finance, it has been reported, with a figure of £300million closer to the mark.
A Palace insider said: “The Royal Family will be absolutely dismayed at the assertion she was unprotected.
“The Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be hugely disappointed these allegations are being made so forcefully.”
