Meghan Markle and Harry are suing Associated Newspaper over unauthorized release of book “Finding Freedom”.
In written submissions, the duchess’s lawyer, Justin Rushbrooke QC, said: “The claimant and her husband did not collaborate with the authors on the book, nor were they interviewed for it, nor did they provide photographs to the authors for the book.”
He said neither Harry nor Meghan had spoken to the authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, who Rushbrooke added “were not given the impression that the claimant wanted the contents of the letter to be reproduced in the book”.
Antony White QC, for ANL, said in written submissions that Finding Freedom gave “every appearance of having been written with their [the couple’s] extensive cooperation”.
Markle denies these claims and is suing ANL over five articles. Two of the articles were in the Mail on Sunday and three on Mail Online. The headline on the first Mail on Sunday article read: “Revealed: the letter showing true tragedy of Meghan’s rift with a father she says has ‘broken her heart into a million pieces’.”
The trial is due to begin in January and estimated to last between seven and 10 days.
The hearing on Monday before Judge Francesca Kaye will also deal with applications for further disclosure and directions towards a trial.
