Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has issued an apology to the court for failing to recall approving her aides to speak to biographers.
The apology comes after a witness statement revealed that she and Prince Harry had authorized their aides to collaborate with authors Ahmed Scobie and Carolyn Durand for the book “Finding Freedom” in 2020.
This biography delves into the royal couple’s experiences within the royal family, a subject the Sussex royals had previously denied any involvement with.
Contrary to their earlier stance, a spokesperson for Meghan and Harry clarified in 2020 that the Duke and Duchess did not contribute to the book, emphasizing that the authors did not speak on behalf of the royals.
However, a recent witness statement from Meghan disclosed that she had overlooked email exchanges with her then Press Secretary, Jason Knauf, regarding the book.
She admitted to discussing the book with Knauf, expressing regret for not recalling these interactions sooner.
In her statement to the court, Meghan acknowledged that had she been aware of the emails, she would have gladly referenced them as supportive evidence.
She stressed that the information shared with Knauf was primarily background details requested as far back as 2016, refuting claims of deliberately disclosing personal information.
Moreover, Knauf’s witness statement revealed that Meghan had suggested topics such as her family members be discussed with the authors, indicating a level of cooperation authorized by the royal couple.
The revelation of Meghan’s involvement in coordinating with the authors surfaced during an appeal by the publisher of the Mail on Sunday, who argued that publishing Meghan’s letter to her father was lawful.
Meghan had sued Associated Newspapers Limited over articles that reproduced parts of her private letter to her father, winning the case earlier this year.
The court learned that Meghan had drafted the letter with the anticipation of it being leaked, as indicated by messages exchanged with Knauf.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Meghan expressed willingness to address her exchanges with Knauf had she been aware of them earlier.
She reiterated that the disclosed information did not align with the detailed personal data alleged by the defendant to have been intended for public disclosure.
Meghan further explained that her delayed discovery of the emails was due to the litigation process not yet reaching the disclosure stage, citing her pregnancy and recent miscarriage as reasons for seeking an adjournment of the trial date last year.
The unfolding details shed light on the complexities surrounding Meghan’s legal dispute with the media, highlighting the intricacies of her interactions with aides and the challenges of navigating privacy concerns within the public domain.
Meghan’s proactive approach in addressing the discrepancies underscores her commitment to transparency and clarifying misconceptions surrounding her involvement in the publication of personal information.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Duchess remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice and upholding her rights amidst the ongoing scrutiny and public attention.
