The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has opened legal proceedings against the owners of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, accusing them of “intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter” as part of a “campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband.“
Revealing the leagl proceedings, a spokesperson for Meghan and Harry said:
“Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex has filed a claim against Associated Newspapers over the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.”
Confirming the proceedings, Meghan and Harry’s solictors, Schillings, stated that:
“We have initiated legal proceedings against the Mail on Sunday, and its parent company Associated Newspapers, over the intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex”
Schillings added that the Mail on Sunday story was “part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband.“
Commenting on the impending legal action, Prince Harry said in an official statement:
“My wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”
“There is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.”
Prince Harry went on to add:
“The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense“
“For these select media this is a game, and one that we have been unwilling to play from the start. I have been a silent witness to her private suffering for too long. To stand back and do nothing would be contrary to everything we believe in.”
And justifying the couple’s decision to open legal proceedings against the Mail, Harry stated:
“There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behaviour, because it destroys people and destroys lives. Put simply, it is bullying, which scares & silences people. We all know this isn’t acceptable, at any level”
“Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.“
The case will be privately funded by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and any damages will be donated to an anti-bullying charity.
Associated Newspapers is yet to respond to the impending legal action.
