Meghan ‘could meet her father again face to face in courtroom’
THE Duchess of Sussex could come face-to-face with her estranged father for the first time in four years across a courtroom.
Thomas Markle yesterday defended his decision to release details of a private letter his daughter sent him, which is now at the centre of a legal battle.
Meghan is suing a Sunday newspaper for publishing the highly personal contents.
Sources close to Mr Markle, 75, say he is prepared to travel to the UK to defend his actions, resulting in the possibility the pair could face each other in court.
Tragic
The development is another twist in the bitter rift between Meghan, 38, and her father. The retired Hollywood lighting director, who lives in Mexico, failed to walk her down the aisle at Windsor Castle in May last year after he suffered a heart attack.
An insider said: “It is tragic how Tom didn’t come to [the wedding], yet his first brush with anything royal could be in one of Her Majesty’s courts.
“Tom speaking out to defend his actions as to why he let some of the letter’s content be made public shows his intent, and he is adamant he was justified in doing so. He’s prepared to say it to anyone including a judge.”
Meghan has not seen her father since 2015 – a year before she met Prince Harry, 35. Mr Markle has never met his son-in-law or five-month-old grandson Archie.
Solicitors filed papers last week claiming that publishing the letter was a breach of Meghan’s copyright, infringed her privacy and was a breach of the Data Protection Act.
The couple have hired “attack dog” lawyers Schillings over the Royal Family’s preferred company Harbottle & Lewis. But the Duchess is facing claims she invaded her own privacy after some US friends gave details of the letter to a magazine.
Five friends spoke to a journalist after she reportedly sanctioned the move. She could now be forced to swear on oath whether or not she agreed.
They spoke anonymously and described the letter as kind and loving. They said: “After the wedding, she wrote him a letter. She’s like, ‘Dad. I’m so heartbroken. I love you, I have one father. Please stop victimising me through the media so we can repair our relationship’.”
Mr Markle said: “I decided to release parts of the letter because of the article... I have to defend myself. The letter didn’t seem loving to me. I found it hurtful.
“I don’t recognise the person who wrote the letter, but I still love my daughter. All it would take is one phone call, and most of this craziness would stop.”