LITTLE MISS FORGETFUL
Meghan Markle wins privacy battle… but judges point out her ‘unfortunate lapse of memory’ and fight might not be over
THE Duchess of Sussex won a privacy battle yesterday — but judges pointed out her “unfortunate lapse of memory”.
She was also warned the court fight may not be over.
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Court of Appeal judges rejected a bid by the Mail on Sunday’s publisher for a trial in the case.
It upheld an earlier ruling that Meghan’s copyright and privacy were breached when the paper published extracts of a letter she sent to estranged father Thomas Markle, 77.
It ruled the letter was private, even if Meghan wrote it knowing it could end up in the Press.
But her reputation was damaged after she apologised to the court for forgetting emails used to brief Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.
In his judgment, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, ruled: “This was, at best, an unfortunate lapse of memory on her part.”
MoS publishers Associated News Ltd are considering a further appeal to the Supreme Court and questioning Meghan’s “credibility”.
Royal author Penny Junor said: “It is a victory at a huge cost to Meghan’s reputation.
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“She’s shown herself to be disingenuous as she had forgotten she had asked her press secretary to brief Finding Freedom’s authors and also we learn she used the words ‘Dear Daddy’ to pull at heart strings if the letter got leaked.”
Meghan said: “This is a victory not just for me, but for anyone who has ever felt scared to stand up for what’s right.”
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The original High Court ruling said the issues were clear cut and did not require a full hearing.
Evidence submitted since by the publishers prompted Meghan’s apology. But Sir Geoffrey said it was hard to see what evidence at trial would have “altered the situation”.
Associated Newspapers said it felt judgment should be given on evidence tested at trial, and “not on a summary basis”.
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