Meghan Markle Wins Court Case against U.K. Associated Newspapers over Letter to Her Father

Meghan Markle took the Mail on Sunday publication to court with a copyright claim because they published a personal handwritten letter that she sent her father.

The Duchess of Sussex has claimed total victory over the British press after winning her copyright claim against the Mail on Sunday, which formed part of her larger claim against the Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

Meghan Markle took the ANL to court after they published a series of articles covering her relationship with her estranged father in 2019, including extracts of a handwritten letter the royal had sent to him.

COMPLETE WIN

Markle's most recent win in court followed her success in February when the judge ruled in her favor concerning the largest part of her claim, centered around the media's breach of her privacy.

The Duchess's copyright claim was the remaining portion of the claim, and on Wednesday, she saw the end of her lawsuit with a complete win on all fronts. Lord Justice Warby, who ruled over the case, said that the publication of the letter was:

"Manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.”

ANL'S DEFENSE

ANL's defense took on the position that private matters concerning Markle and other royal family members are public interest because it contributes to the correct functioning of the monarchy.

The royal is releasing her first children's book titled "The Bench" which will be seen on shelves from June 8.

The publisher's defense was ineffective as the judge sided with Markle. ANL will now have to give up its copies of the letter and write a front-page statement about the result of the case. The date for the hearing about damages is pending.

FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY

The Duchess of Sussex's sweeping win over ANL is not the first time she has claimed victory over the press in the courtroom. Markle and her husband stood together to take on an American paparazzi company.

Markle and Prince Harry sued the paparazzi Splash News & Picture Agency after they snapped pictures of the couple's son, Archie. The lawsuit ended in the Hollywood paparazzi company filing for bankruptcy, CEO Emma Curzon said:

"The company has sought to settle this matter but has been unable to agree a financial settlement within its resources."

MOVING ON

Seeking to be in charge of her own narrative, Markle has now moved on to become a published author. The royal is releasing her first children's book titled "The Bench," which will be seen on shelves from June 8.

Markle used Prince Harry's special relationship with Archie as inspiration for her story, although it was never intended to be a book. The mother originally wrote a poem for her husband on Father's Day, which turned into her new book.

The Duchess of Sussex only collaborates with the best, roping in the award-winning artist Christin Robinson to illustrate her story and bring it to life with watercolor paintings.

Markle aimed for an inclusive narrative in her first publication as she expressed the hope that every family will resonate with the story in some way.