Meghan Markle’s Claim Against Tabloid ‘Vague, Embarrassing’; Lawyers Called Duchess’ Defeat ‘A Complete Disaster’

Meghan Markle’s claim against a U.K. tabloid was considered “vague” by a judge.

The Duchess of Sussex sued Mail on Sunday for publishing excerpts of her letter for her dad Thomas Markle Sr. However, during the first trial, Markle lost because the judge didn’t agree that the tabloid acted “dishonestly” by quoting only passages of the letter.

Royal correspondent Matt Wilkinson of The Sun reported more details about the case. According to him, in the written ruling, Justice Mark Warby dismissed Markle’s claim against the tabloid acting “dishonestly” because it was “vague and lacking in particulars.”

“The pleaded case as it stands is ‘embarrassing’ in the old sense that it places the defendant in an impossible position, whereby it cannot tell what case it has to meet,” the judge added.

Several lawyers reacted to the incident. One called Markle’s defeat a “complete disaster” and “humiliation.”

“For Meghan this judgment is like a train ploughing into a petrol tanker on a level crossing. It is a complete disaster. She’s been humiliated today. Every complaint by Associated Newspapers has been completely and utterly vindicated by the judge,” said Mark Stephens, a partner at London law firm Howard Kennedy.

“She would be well advised to settle and walk away. If it goes to trial, the evidence of Meghan and her father Thomas about the letter and their rift would be examined under oath. If she is going to be humiliated in person there will be no worse outcome for her.”

On the other hand, Markle’s lawyers insisted that her rights were violated and publishing her personal letters crossed her privacy. They vowed to continue the legal battle even if they were surprised with the initial ruling.

“Whilst the judge recognizes that there is a claim for breach of privacy and copyright, we are surprised to see that his ruling suggests that dishonest behaviour is not relevant,” one of Markle’s lawyers said.

“Nonetheless, we respect the judge’s decision as the strong case against Associated will continue to focus on the issue of a private, intimate and hand-written letter from a daughter to her father that was published by The Mail on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Markle and Prince Harry recently cut ties with four major U.K. tabloids. The royal couple sent a letter to Daily Mail, Express, Mirror and The Sun informing them that there would be “no collaboration and zero engagement” between them moving forward.