Meghan Markle is ready to the take the stand in her lawsuit against the Associated Newspapers. Her lawyer David Sherborne said that the Duchess of Sussex is willing to be cross-examined in the case dubbed by the media as Markle vs Markle.
At the center of the lawsuit is Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, who gave and allowed Mail on Sunday, a part of Associated Newspapers, to publish the private letter his daughter wrote to him. Meghan alleged that the news outlet's publication of her letter was meant to put her in a bad light.
Meghan's lawyer alleged that her relationship with Thomas soured because the letter was printed. The wife of Prince Harry is suing for breach of privacy, adding that Mail on Sunday didn't attempt to contact her for her side of the story.
The Duchess of Sussex blames Associated Newspapers for causing her estrangement with Thomas and said that the tabloid exploited her dad. Thomas still contends that he shared his Meghan's letter to the media because his daughter's friends vilified him in an interview on People.
Lawyers for both sides of the case presented before the High Court in London via a virtual platform due to the coronavirus lockdown. This court day was meant for the judge to decide if the case needed to go to trial. Prince Harry and Meghan apparently sat through the hearing as well, albeit virtually in their home in Los Angeles.
If the trial is a go, Meghan and Thomas could be face-to-face in court by early 2021. This would be the first time the daughter and father would see each other since their estrangement in 2018.
If Meghan and her dad will head to head at the High Court, Thomas is, reportedly, ready to give evidence against his daughter after Meghan's lawyers called him a liar. Following the hearing Friday, sources said that Meghan was emboldened to take the stand.
Meanwhile, the High Court might also have to call on five of Meghan's friends to the trial. Meghan denied that she didn't have any knowledge of the People interview to vilify her dad and her friend would have to prove this under oath. However, a royal expert said that the trial might become embarrassing for the Duchess of Sussex.
"Harry and Meghan are going to have to give up more intimate details to prove their case and therefore it does seem a bit self-defeating," said Camilla Tominey. "The cat has already been let out of the bag."
