Mail On Sunday Denies Meghan Markle’s Allegations Of 'Exploiting' Dad Thomas In First Hearing

Mail on Sunday denied Meghan Markle's allegations against them during the first hearing.

The Duchess of Sussex is suing Associated Newspapers for publishing parts of her personal letters to her dad Thomas Markle Sr. in 2018 which “intended to portray her in a false and damaging light.” On Friday (April 24), the first hearing was held at the High Court with proceedings held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The legal representatives and journalists dialed in remotely while Mr. Justice Warby sat in the Royal Courts of Justice. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expected to listen from Los Angeles from the virtual proceedings.

During the proceeding, Anthony White QC, for Associated Newspapers, said that Markle’s lawyers asserted that the media group is “harassing, humiliating, manipulating and exploiting” her estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr.

White said that the allegations were “put on the record without the claimant (Markle) having contacted her father to see if he agrees with them,” Sky News reported.

White also addressed the claim that the publisher “acted dishonestly” for only publishing parts of her letter.

“It is extremely common for the media to summarise or edit documents when reporting current events, and that is not a basis for an allegation of dishonesty,” he explained. “It is open to the claimant to say, as she does, that the presentation of the letter was misleading - which is firmly denied - but there is no basis for her to allege that anyone working for the defendant was dishonest in the drafting and editing process.”

Markle’s counsel insisted that they harassed Thomas Sr. and had “finally manipulated this vulnerable man into giving interviews” which he described as “lies.”

There is no trial date set yet.

Meanwhile, Markle’s father said that he was embarrassed of her and Prince Harry’s decision to step back from their royal rules. According to him, by doing so, the couple probably hurt the Queen.

Markle’s half-brother agreed for an interview in March. According to Thomas Markle Jr., their father no longer cares if the duchess will come back after trying for so long to reach her without getting any response.