Here’s why Meghan Markle’s father released that private letter at the center of the lawsuit
Ever since she began dating Prince Harry back in 2016, Meghan Markle has been subject to intense—and often vicious—treatment by members of the British press. Three years and a baby later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are still defending themselves against tabloids. Earlier this month, the Harry and Meghan filed a lawsuit against a British tabloid for publishing a heart-wrenching, private letter sent from Meghan to her father, Thomas Markle. Now, Thomas has spoken up about why he sold the letter to the press.
Ahead of the royal wedding in 2018, Thomas stirred up drama by staging and selling photographs of himself looking at pictures of Harry and Meghan online to the media. He ultimately did not attend the royal wedding, reportedly due to health issues.
In February, days after Meghan’s close friends anonymously addressed rumors surrounding the duchess and her family ties via People.com, Thomas released a private letter Meghan sent him post-royal wedding, in which she pleads with him to stop making their issues public by speaking to the media.
On October 1st, Prince Harry condemned the British press for “bullying” his wife and also revealed plans to take “legal action” against the Daily Mail for publishing Meghan’s letter, writing that portions of the letter “were published unlawfully in an intentionally destructive manner to manipulate you, the reader, and further the divisive agenda of the media group in question.”
"I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces"
Prince Harry says he and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are suing the Mail on Sunday newspaper over the publication of a letter written by the duchess https://t.co/Iihzec0OOw
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 1, 2019
He added, "In addition to their unlawful publication of this private document, they purposely misled you by strategically omitting select paragraphs, specific sentences, and even singular words to mask the lies they had perpetuated for over a year."
While more details of the lawsuit have not been revealed yet, Thomas decided to go to the press again, telling the Daily Mail on October 5th why he released the letter. And it apparently all stems from the People.com article.
“I decided to release parts of the letter because of the article from Meghan’s friends in People magazine,” Thomas told the Daily Mail. “I have to defend myself.”
"I only released parts of the letter because other parts were so painful," he continued. "The letter didn’t seem loving to me. I found it hurtful...When I opened the letter I was hoping it was the olive branch I’d longed for. I was expecting something that would be a pathway to reconciliation. Instead it was deeply hurtful. I was so devastated I couldn’t show it to anyone — and never would have, had it not been for the People magazine piece which meant I had to release portions to defend myself."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not yet acknowledged Thomas Markle’s latest public statement. Our thoughts are with them as they continue to navigate through the drama, and we hope they will both be treated with respect by the press and their family members.
