Five of Megan Markle’s close friends can remain anonymous in the Duchess of Sussex’s privacy invasion lawsuit against a British newspaper, a British judge ruled.
On Wednesday, High Court judge Mark Warby agreed that “for the time being at least” he will grant the “Suits” actress’ request to maintain the privacy of the pals who defended her in People magazine, The Associated Press reports.
“Generally, it does not help the interests of justice if those involved in litigation are subjected to, or surrounded by, a frenzy of publicity,” Warby determined, but added that regarding a full trial, “That is a price that may have to be paid in the interests of transparency.”
Markle, 39, is suing Associated Newspapers Ltd., the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline publisher, over a series of articles that contained excerpts of handwritten letters Markle wrote to estranged dad Thomas Markle following the “Elephant” narrator’s 2018 nuptials to Prince Harry.
She’s seeking damages for alleged misuse of private information, along with copyright infringement and data protection breaches.
The duchess’ female friends spoke with People anonymously regarding the bullying Markle had faced in the media, leading her to request the judge not publish details about the friends because they weren’t parties to the case and had a “basic right to privacy.”
Associated Newspapers denies the duchess’ claim of privacy-infringement and instead says the letter entered the public domain when her friends described it in speaking with People.
One of the friends told the U.S. magazine Markle had written, “Dad, I’m so heartbroken. I love you. I have one father. Please stop victimizing me through the media so we can repair our relationship.”
The publisher’s attorney Antony White said last week that Markle’s friends, who have only publicly been identified as A to E, were potential witnesses.
Associated Newspapers’ camp insist the letter must have come “directly or indirectly” from the duchess — which her side denies, noting she was unaware her friends were going to speak with People.
The publisher’s side says Thomas Markle shared the letter with the Mail in response to the impression the royal’s friends had offered about him.
Wednesday’s ruling was crucial because the case depends on “whether or not Meghan, through her friends, curated an attack on Thomas Markle,” said London media lawyer Mark Stephens.
“If they did, he was entitled to respond by giving the letter or extracts of the letter to the Mail on Sunday.”
With News Wire Services