Duchess wins bid to keep friends from being named
● Judge grants application – but says decision could change in future
The Duchess of Sussex has won the latest tussle in her legal action against a British newspaper after a High Court judge ruled in her favour over protecting the identities of five friends of hers who gave an anonymous interview to a US magazine.
In a ruling yesterday, Mr Justice Warby said he had concluded “for the time being at least” the duchess should be granted an order which protects the identities of the individuals.
Following the ruling, a source said Meghan, 39, was “happy” with the decision.
The duchess is suing Associated Newspapers (ANL), the publisher of the Mail On Sunday and Mailonline, over an article which reproduced parts of a “private and confidential” handwritten letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, 76, in August 2018.
At a preliminary hearing in London last week,the duchess’ lawyers applied for the five friends who gave an interview to People magazine to remain anonymous in reports of the proceedings. ANL opposed the application.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Warby said he was granting the duchess’s application, but added that the decision could change in the future.
He said: “I have concluded that for the time being at least the court should grant the claimant the orders she seeks, the effect of which will be to confer protection on the sources’ identities.
“That is confidential information, the protection of which at this stage is necessary in the interests of the administration of justice. “This is an interim decision.” Mr Justice Warby also said: “Generally, it does not help the interests of justice if those involved in litigation are subjected to, or surrounded by, a frenzy of publicity.”
Following the ruling, a source said the duchess had the interests of her friends at heart. They said: “The duchess felt it was necessary to take this step to protect her friends, as any of us would, and we’re happy that the judge agreed to protect these individuals.”
In the People article last year, the friends spoke out against bullying Meghan said she has faced. The duchess says her friends gave the interview without her knowledge, and denies a claim made by ANL that she “caused or permitted” the article to be published.
“It does not help the interests of justice if those involved in litigation are subjected to, or surrounded by, a frenzy of publicity”
MR JUSTICE WARBY