Meghan Markle clinched a victory in her legal battle against the British tabloid, Mail on Sunday and its publisher, Associated Newspapers, which published parts of her personal letter to her father, Thomas Markle.
The Duchess of Sussex was able to secure a summary judgment, thus avoiding a full trial, from London High Court Judge Mark Warby. The judge said in a written ruling that Meghan had reasonably expected her letter to her father would remain private but Mail on Sunday published parts of it in five articles in February 2019.
Warby ruled that the disclosures by the tabloid were "manifestly excessive and hence unlawful." The judge also said that there was a misuse of private information. The ruling would mean that Meghan will no longer have to give key evidence that could potentially reveal Palace protocols or face-off with her father in court.
In a statement, the Duchess of Sussex expressed gratitude to the courts for holding the tabloid to account after years of "illegal and dehumanizing practices." Meghan said that the damage done by the publication to her and her family brought "very real sadness" that still runs deep.
Meghan also hopes that her case would create a legal precedent against the media's exploitation. She thanked her solicitor Jenny Afia, her husband, Prince Harry, and her mother, Doria Ragland for their support.
But Warby also ruled that Meghan's copyright claims will need a separate trial with a hearing tentatively set for March. The ruling on her third claim on data protection is still under process.
At the center of the case is the letter Meghan wrote to her dad after her wedding to Harry in May 2018. Thomas wasn't able to walk his daughter down the aisle because he was recovering from a heart attack. Days before the attack, Thomas collaborated with the paparazzi despite repeated pleas from Harry not to deal with them nor speak to the tabloid press.
Mail on Sunday's articles indicated that Meghan complained to her father after he ignored his daughter's attempt to reach out. Thomas, however, said that he also tried to patch up with his daughter "multiple times."
The father and daughter have been estranged since this lawsuit. The tabloid claimed that they published the letter to help Thomas respond to the claims made by Meghan's friends in an anonymous interview on People.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Associated Newspapers said that they were surprised and disappointed by the ruling as they have prepared to present evidence in the full trial. The defendants have the chance to lodge an appeal and the spokesperson said this up for consideration.
