Meghan Markle found herself at the center of public backlash following her admission of a memory lapse during a recent court appearance.
The Duchess of Sussex apologized to the Court of Appeal for failing to recollect instructing a royal aide to brief the authors of the Finding Freedom biography.
The revelation came to light that on December 10, 2018, she had sent a detailed briefing note to Jason Knauf, her then Communications Secretary, containing essential background information regarding her estranged family and her perspective on the Tiara incident involving the Queen.
Initially denying any involvement in providing information to the authors of the biography, Meghan Markle reversed her stance after Mr. Knauf intervened, confirming that discussions about the book had occurred multiple times between the Duchess and himself in person and via email.
She acknowledged that specific cooperation had been authorized by both her and Prince Harry in writing back in December 2018.
In a written statement to the judges, Meghan expressed acceptance of Mr. Knauf’s disclosures to the authors, citing evidence and documentation presented by him.
The Mail on Sunday, a publication affiliated with the Daily Mail, is currently defending itself against allegations made by Meghan Markle regarding privacy violations stemming from the publication of excerpts from a letter to her father, Thomas Markle.
The publication argues that Meghan had permitted U.S. magazine People and the authors of Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie and Caroline Durand, to be briefed in order to present favorable portrayals of her life story, a claim disputed by the royal couple.
During the court proceedings, Meghan clarified that she had not been aware of certain email exchanges at the time she approved the passage in question.
She expressed regret for the oversight, emphasizing her lack of intention to mislead the court or the defendant.
The Court of Appeal was presented with a collection of emails and text messages exchanged between Harry, Meghan, and their palace advisors from August to December 2018, revealing Mr. Knauf’s caution against allowing the authors access to Meghan’s friends.
In an email to Prince Harry, Mr. Knauf outlined the topics the authors wished to discuss and sought the Duke’s approval to share them with the Duchess for factual accuracy and context.
Meghan, in a two-page email submitted as evidence, offered additional insights on various questions posed by the authors, including details about her relationship with her half-siblings and her interactions with her father.
The briefing note prepared by the Duchess for Mr. Knauf also included her version of events surrounding a tiara fitting with the Queen prior to her royal wedding, which she believed had been misrepresented by the media.
The court proceedings shed light on Meghan’s initial reservations about meeting with the authors of the biography, a sentiment echoed by Mr. Knauf during his interactions with the royal couple.
Meghan expressed a willingness to refer to her emails if she had remembered instructing her aide to brief the authors, emphasizing their potential to bolster her case.
The Duchess emphasized that her actions were not aimed at misleading the court, reiterating her commitment to transparency and accuracy in the legal proceedings.
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