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    3. Royal News

    One Royal family member's text messages say Harry faced "constant berating" from his family

    Can you guess what about?

    Ally Head's avatar
    By Ally Head
    Published 16 November 2021 In News

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    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    Can you guess what about?

    Last week, Meghan Markle's three-day Court of Appeal hearing took place.

    The Mail on Sunday is appealing that sharing a "private" letter from Meghan to her father, Thomas Markle, in 2018, was against the law.

    As a result of the appeal, a number of text messages sent by Meghan to her former communications secretary Jason Knauf have been published.

    The hearing was originally set to take place on January 11th, but was postponed by nine months on "confidential" grounds.

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    Meghan called the original leaking of her letter "a breach of copyright, infringement of her privacy, and breaches the Data Protection Act."

    As part of the appeal, text messages from Meghan claim that Prince Harry was subject to "constant berating" from certain Royal Family members, in particular over her relationship with her father.

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    It's long been believed that Meghan has long had a tense relationship with her father - he didn't attend her wedding in 2018.

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    For context: last year, Meghan successfully sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) - the publisher of MailOnline and The Mail on Sunday - for articles that shared sections of her "private" letter to her Dad.

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    However, with ANL appealing the decision, new evidence is coming to light, including the aforementioned text messages.

    In some, she appears frustrated with Royal Family members, writing that they "fundamentally don't understand" her separation from her Dad, and further, that she penned the letter to "protect my husband from this constant berating."

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

    Knauf has since said that he regretted not being able to give court evidence sooner.

    This isn't the first time Harry and Meghan have shared their disappointment at the Royal family, with Harry sharing that he felt "let down" in their tell-all Oprah interview earlier this year.

    He claimed that the Prince of Wales even stopped picking up his calls towards the end of 2019, shortly after Harry and Meghan had officially stepped down as senior Royals and moved to California.

    "But at the same time - I will always love him - but there's a lot of hurt that's happened and I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship," Harry shared with the presenter.

    Knauf claimed earlier this week that Meghan wrote the letter knowing full well that her father would likely leak the document to the press.

    He also claims that Meghan was more involved with Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durant, the authors of the unofficial biography of the Sussexes - Finding Freedom, than has been shared.

    His witness statement shares that the book was "discussed on a routine basis... directly with the duchess multiple times in person and over email".

    Meghan has in the past claimed that neither Harry nor her were involved in the book.

    Ally Head
    Ally Head
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    Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

    Ally is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a well-regarded wellness expert, ten-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner.

    Utilising her impressive skillset and exceptional quality of writing, she pens investigative, review and first-person pieces that consistently demonstrate flair and originality.

    Ally manages a team of freelancers, oversees all commissioning and strategy for her pillars, and spearheads the brand's annual Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting the likes of Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Ilona Maher. Shortlisted for three BSMEs and winning one in 2022, Ally lives and breathes her verticals: her eye for a story and connections within the wellness sphere are unrivalled. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.

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