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Meghan Markle may be forced to ‘hand over text messages, emails and phone records’ in upcoming court battle

The Duchess is suing a newspaper for publishing a private letter she sent her estranged father

Credit: WENN.com

Meghan Markle may be forced to hand over text messages, emails and phone records in an upcoming court battle against the UK Mail on Sunday, according to a new report.

The Duchess of Sussex is suing the newspaper for publishing a “private and confidential” letter that she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

Meghan’s father received the letter in August 2018, months before sections of it were published in the UK Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline in February, 2019.

The mother-of-one is seeking damages from Associated Newspapers Ltd for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.

Associated Newspapers have denied Meghan’s claims, and revealed their intent to fight the case in the High Court.

This means Meghan may be forced to hand over text messages, emails and phone records as part of the disclosure process.

According to The Sun, the Mail On Sunday plan to defend the document’s publication by suggesting Meghan put the letter in the public domain by allegedly telling friends about it – who later spoke to People magazine.

A source said: “There will be a duty on both sides to disclose relevant information and documentation, which for Meghan could include her personal communications.”

Photo credit: PA images / Getty images – Chris Jackson

“If it becomes clear that text messages, emails and phone records were relevant to the case then she would have to provide them to the other side.

“The defence lawyers will probably argue any communication she had with friends over the People article is relevant.”

Meghan is expected give evidence at the trial, and the Duchess will be cross-examined by the Associated Newspapers defence team.

The insider added: “The lawyers will want Meghan in the witness box and she will be open to a crossexamination, which could see many aspects of her family background examined in court.”

“That’s the downside of suing in the public domain. She will be under oath so the stakes are very high for her.

“But if her lawyers were sensible they would have looked through all her communications before making the claim to know what could possibly end up being revealed.”

The Duchess’ plan to sue the newspaper was revealed earlier this month in a personal statement released by her husband Prince Harry. 

John Rainford/WENN.com

In an emotional message posted on their website, the Duke slammed the British press for “bullying” his wife, and said he feared “history repeating itself” – referencing his late mother, Princess Diana.

“I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,” he wrote. “I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

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