Meghan Markle is victorious in final copyright claim against U.K. publishers who circulated the Duchess' personal note to her father

'For these outlets, it’s a game. For me and so many others, it’s real life'

NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - OCTOBER 26: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex at Tupou College on October 26, 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

It's a victory in the courtroom for Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex won her final copyright claim in a lawsuit against the U.K. publishers that printed a personal, handwritten note she had sent her estranged father, Thomas Markle. 

• Associated Newspapers Limited ran a copy of a handwritten letter Meghan wrote to her father in 2018. 

• The publisher alleged that Meghan's former communications secretary, Jason Knauf, helped write the note and therefore the letter belonged to the Crown, per Good Morning America. 

• In other royal news, Kate Middleton makes an emotional call and stresses that "cuddles are very, very important."


Meghan Markle emerged victorious in a copyright claim. 

Although the Associated Newspapers Limited believed it was within its rights to republish Meghan's personal note in five different articles, it's been decided that this act was a violation of the Duke of Sussex's privacy. 

The note, which circulated throughout several articles in 2019, discusses the failing relationship Meghan had with her father. 

"For these outlets, it’s a game. For me and so many others, it’s real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep," Meghan said in a statement, according to Good Morning America. 

Although she undoubtedly has experienced turmoil with her father—something made Kate Middleton worry about Prince Harry—Meghan is celebrating another important father-child relationship with the release of The Bench. 

Meghan's new picture book, which originated as a poem to her husband Prince Harry, ultimately became a much larger project that intends to find its way to households everywhere. 

"Evoking a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion, The Bench gives readers a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons—moments of peace and reflection, trust and belief, discovery and learning, and lasting comfort," the press release states. 

Criticism began to circulate upon the announcement of the book, as readers claimed Meghan's story closely resembled The Boy on the Bench by Corrinne Averiss and Gabriel Alborozo. The author, however, came to the Duchess' defense on Twitter and insisted that there are no similarities. 

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Danielle Valente

Danielle is a writer for woman&home and My Imperfect Life, where she particularly enjoys covering lifestyle and entertainment news. She was previously the editor of Time Out New York Kids and a news editor at Elite Daily. When she's not working, you can find her reading a good book and enjoying a cup of coffee. Follow her @dvwrites.