Meghan Markle’s estranged father could give evidence against her in her legal case against the Mail on Sunday, court papers suggest.
Thomas Markle has agreed to be a witness for the newspaper after the Duchess of Sussex launched legal action against the title and sister publication MailOnline for publishing a private letter she sent to her father in August 2018.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are visiting Bradford to speak to young people about life in the West Yorkshire city and local employers helping youngsters to get jobs.
Meghan was also seen in public for the first time since heading back to Canada as she visited a women’s shelter in Vancouver.
It comes after a tumultuous week for the royal family and just days after the Queen agreed Meghan and husband Prince Harry could step back as senior royals and start a “new life” as an “independent” family.
Good afternoon, welcome to today's royal family live blog.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are currently visiting Bradford, in West Yorkshire, for their first official engagement of the year after returning to royal duties.
Meanwhile, court documents appear to suggest Meghan Markle's father Thomas Markle could testify against her as a witness in her legal case against the Mail on Sunday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Bradford City Hall for their first event of the afternoon.
William and Kate were greeted by cheers from several hundred well-wishers on Centenary Square, directly outside the 19th-century building.
They later arrived at MyLahore's flagship restaurant, where they were greeted by restaurant chief executive Asghar Ali and managing director Shakoor Ahmed.
Their first stop in the restaurant was in the kitchen, where they met students from Bradford College taking part in an apprenticeship scheme.
They then went on to make mango and kulfi milkshakes under the guidance of operations director Ishfaq Farooq.
The duke and duchess chose ice cream to add to their drinks and mixed them using blenders.
They then went on to make mango and kulfi milkshakes under the guidance of operations director Ishfaq Farooq.
The duke and duchess chose ice cream to add to their drinks and mixed them using blenders.
Meghan's father could testify against her in court
Earlier today it was revealed the Duchess of Sussex's father could give evidence against her in a legal case against the Mail on Sunday.
Thomas Markle has agreed to be a witness for the newspaper after Meghan Markle launched legal action over an article featuring parts of a private handwritten letter she wrote to her father in August 2018.
The duchess, known as the claimant in legal documents, is seeking damages from Associated Newspapers for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.
The publisher's document alleges: "The claimant's real claim in this action is transparently not that the defendant has processed her personal data without consent, which all media publishers do on a regular basis, but that she does not like the effect of what the defendant has published because she considers it to be unflattering."
Labour leader concerned about 'racial undertones' in coverage of duchess
Jeremy Corbyn has concerns about the "racial undertones" in media coverage of Meghan Markle, a spokesperson for the Labour leader has said.
They added: "Jeremy has commented in the past in relation to Prince Harry and Meghan, about press intrusion and its impact on people and their families and, to use Prince Harry's words as well, the 'racial undertones' in relation to how the media has approached Meghan."
They said Mr Corbyn had "spoken out" about the issue and "understands how press intrusion can have a negative impact on people and their private lives".
In November 2016, Harry used a statement from his communications secretary to lash out at the "wave of abuse and harassment" the US actress had faced from the media, citing the "racial undertones of comment pieces" among his concerns.
Home Secretary Priti Patel dismissed suggestions the Duchess has been subjected to racist press coverage, saying people of any background can "get on in life" in Britain.
Meghan 'would be welcomed by loving British people'
Boxer Amir Khan, a friend of the family who own MyLahore, met William and Kate during their visit to the restaurant in Bradford.
He said he spoke to William about his boxing foundation and mental health in sport.
Asked about Harry and Meghan, Mr Khan said he felt for the family and thought they needed to sit down together to resolve the issues.
He said he spoke to William about his boxing foundation and mental health in sport.
Asked about Harry and Meghan, Mr Khan said he felt for the family and thought they needed to sit down together to resolve the issues.
He said he had never personally experienced any racism in the UK.
He said: "I'm British, I've lived in Britain all my life.
"I feel that Meghan will also be welcomed because the people in Britain are very loving."
'Neat handwriting shows Meghan expected letter to be published'
Lawyers for the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline have claimed the Duchess of Sussex's "immaculate" handwriting in a private letter to her father is proof she intended it to be published.
The two outlets are in a legal battle with the duchess over the publication of the letter which she wrote to Thomas Markle in August 2018 about a series of allegations he had made about her in the press.
Meghan's action against Associated Newspapers Limited, the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline's parent company, alleges the publication of the letter amounts to misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.
But, in documents submitted to the High Court, the company said: "The letter appears to have been being immaculately copied out by the claimant in her own elaborate handwriting from a previous draft.
"There are no crossings-out or amendments as there usually are with a spontaneous draft.
"It is to be inferred also from the care the claimant took over the presentation of the letter that she anticipated it being disclosed to and read by third parties."
Before landing her role in hit US TV series Suits, Meghan supplemented her income by teaching calligraphy, which she learned while at school, and also by creating custom invitations for weddings and other events.
The two outlets are in a legal battle with the duchess over the publication of the letter which she wrote to Thomas Markle in August 2018 about a series of allegations he had made about her in the press.
Meghan's action against Associated Newspapers Limited, the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline's parent company, alleges the publication of the letter amounts to misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.
But, in documents submitted to the High Court, the company said: "The letter appears to have been being immaculately copied out by the claimant in her own elaborate handwriting from a previous draft.
"There are no crossings-out or amendments as there usually are with a spontaneous draft.
"It is to be inferred also from the care the claimant took over the presentation of the letter that she anticipated it being disclosed to and read by third parties."
Before landing her role in hit US TV series Suits, Meghan supplemented her income by teaching calligraphy, which she learned while at school, and also by creating custom invitations for weddings and other events.
Duchess visits women's shelter
Meghan Markle visited a women's shelter in Canada during her first public appearance since the Sussexes announced they were stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, in Vancouver, posted an image of the duchess with a group of women on Facebook, saying: "Look who we had tea with today! The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community."
The centre is described as being in a neighbourhood well-known within Vancouver and even across Canada for its disproportionate levels of poverty and extreme marginalisation, according to its own website.
Meghan 'cared more about unflattering effect of article than data protection'
Meghan has been accused of caring more about the "unflattering" effect of the publication of an article with extracts of a letter she wrote to her father than any breach of her data protection rights.
The claim was made in legal documents submitted to the High Court by the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline.
Papers from the duchess' solicitors have previously said the "true sentiment" of the letter was Meghan's concern about her father's welfare and his exploitation by tabloid newspapers which he should stop talking to.
But Associated Newspapers' legal team said in its document published this week: "If the Claimant had been or was concerned about her father and his welfare, she would not have cut her father, a sick 75-year-old man, out of her life for the perceived sin of speaking to the press about his daughter who had become a famous royal duchess."
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Bradford community centre
William and Kate have been busy in Bradford this afternoon.
The couple have visited Bradford Khidmat Centre, which is devoted to helping vulnerable members of society from minority ethnic backgrounds.
They joined in a session involving groups supported by Better Start Bradford, which delivers projects to pregnant women and families with children under the age of four.
They then met families from the Older Yet Wiser project, which supports grandparents with child-caring responsibilities.
As they walked in, the royals were shown a huge cake which tells the story of both of their lives to date through edible pictures.
When she saw the cake, baked by Bradford baker Siama Ali, Kate said it was "really clever", adding: "That's incredible."
William joked: "Mary Berry would be impressed."
When she saw the cake, baked by Bradford baker Siama Ali, Kate said it was "really clever", adding: "That's incredible."
William joked: "Mary Berry would be impressed."
