LONDON: British royal Meghan told a former senior aide that a handwritten letter she wrote to her father could be leaked to the press and so she had been "meticulous" with her choice of words, London's Court of Appeal was told on Wednesday.
The disclosure was put to the court as the Mail on Sunday newspaper seeks to overturn a ruling that it breached Meghan's privacy and copyright by publishing parts of the letter she wrote to Thomas Markle in August 2018, three months after her wedding to Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson.
Earlier this year, a high court judge ruled in her favour without a trial, and said the paper should print a front-page apology and pay her legal bills.
Appealing against that decision over three days of hearings, lawyers for the Mail argued Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, had always known the letter could be leaked, and said evidence from her former communications chief Jason Knauf was proof of this.
In a witness statement, Knauf said the duchess had indicated that she recognised Markle might make the letter public, and had "toiled over every detail which could be manipulated".
"She asked me to review the text of the letter, saying 'obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked so I have been meticulous in my word choice but please do let me know if anything stands out for you as a liability'," his statement said.
The Mail's lawyer, Andrew Caldecott, also cited text messages sent from Meghan to Knauf which said she had decided to use the word "Daddy" to begin the letter because "in the unfortunate event that it leaked, it would pull at the heartstrings".
"If he leaks it then that’s on his conscious (sic) but at least the world will know the truth," the message said, according to the lawyer.
'ABSURD'
In her witness statement, Meghan, 40, said it was "absurd" to suggest that just because she thought it was possible her father would leak the letter, she believed it was likely that he would.
"I did not think that my father would sell or leak the letter, primarily because it would not put him in a good light," she said. She also detailed how she had only decided to write the letter after discussions with two senior royals, referred to only as A and B.
Meghan penned the five-page handwritten letter to Markle following a collapse in their relationship in the run-up to her wedding, which her father missed due to ill health and after he admitted posing for paparazzi pictures.
The paper, which published extracts in February 2019, argued Markle wanted the letter public to respond to anonymous comments by Meghan's friends in interviews with the U.S. magazine People.
Harry and Meghan, who gave up their royal duties and moved to Los Angeles last year, have fallen out with the rest of the Windsors after giving an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey in which they accused one unnamed royal of racism and Meghan said her pleas for help had been ignored.
Knauf is now the chief executive of Royal Foundation, the main charity vehicle for Harry's elder brother Prince William and his wife Kate. The Times newspaper reported in March he had raised concerns about bullying of staff by Meghan, allegations she rejected.
If the Mail wins the appeal, which is due to conclude on Thursday, the case will go to a trial at which Meghan and her father are likely to give evidence.
The duchess's lawyers have said the appeal should be thrown out as a trial would allow further invasion of her privacy, while the Mail would profit from the "media circus that would inevitably result".
Reuters
Thu Nov 11 2021
![Royal aide says Meghan anticipated father leaking letter Royal aide says Meghan anticipated father leaking letter](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/41602382013_MeghanMarkle.jpg)
In a witness statement, Knauf said the duchess had indicated that she recognised Markle might make the letter public, and had "toiled over every detail which could be manipulated". - AFP/Filepic
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708604164_kasperskyancamans.jpg)
Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini
Kaspersky mengesahkan kurang 50 pekerja akan terkesan, dan mereka akan diberikan pampasan susulan penutupan syarikat tersebut.
![ADB lulus pinjaman AS$100 juta kepada Uzbekistan ADB lulus pinjaman AS$100 juta kepada Uzbekistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721128485_Uzbekistanflag.jpg)
ADB lulus pinjaman AS$100 juta kepada Uzbekistan
Pinjaman itu bagi membantu Uzbekistan meningkatkan penjagaan pranatal untuk wanita hamil dan bayi mereka.
![Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721127722_NurFarahKartini.jpg)
Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
Kakak ipar mangsa Syeril Norsyuhada Suhaimi, 29, berkata mereka sekeluarga masih terkejut dan sedih atas kejadian yang menimpa Nur Farah Kartini.
![Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721125507_SultanSelangor.jpg)
Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata
Sultan Selangor Sultan kini berada di hospital untuk rawatan pemeriksaan kesihatan bagi menjalani prosedur pembedahan katarak mata.
![Putera Harry kalah dalam usaha cabar kerajaan UK dapatkan kawalan keselamatan Putera Harry kalah dalam usaha cabar kerajaan UK dapatkan kawalan keselamatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-06/71561473191_HarryMeghan.jpg)
Putera Harry kalah dalam usaha cabar kerajaan UK dapatkan kawalan keselamatan
Harry, isteri hilang perlindungan keselamatan di UK susulan pengundurannya daripada tugas-tugas diraja.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Harry, Meghan diburu paparazi, hampir kemalangan dalam kejadian 'kejar-mengejar' Harry, Meghan diburu paparazi, hampir kemalangan dalam kejadian 'kejar-mengejar'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/51677715072_PrinceHarryandMeg.jpg)
Harry, Meghan diburu paparazi, hampir kemalangan dalam kejadian 'kejar-mengejar'
Pasangan itu dikejar dengan kereta sehingga hampir membawa bencana di tangan sekumpulan paparazi yang sangat agresif di New York.
![Putera Harry tidak muncul di balkoni istana selepas majlis istiadat pertabalan bapa Putera Harry tidak muncul di balkoni istana selepas majlis istiadat pertabalan bapa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/71683391121_PrinceHarryDukeo.jpg)
Putera Harry tidak muncul di balkoni istana selepas majlis istiadat pertabalan bapa
Putera Harry yang merupakan putera bongsu Raja Charles III dilihat menghadiri istiadat pertabalan bapanya di Westminster Abbey pada Sabtu.
![Meghan Markle bidas media Britain Meghan Markle bidas media Britain](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/61615176219_MeghanMarkle.jpg)
Meghan Markle bidas media Britain
Isteri Putera Harry berang media Britain dakwa tindakannya tidak hadir upacara pertabalan Raja Charles ekoran surat yang dikirim dua tahun lalu.
![Putera Harry, Meghan diminta kosongkan kediaman di Istana Britain Putera Harry, Meghan diminta kosongkan kediaman di Istana Britain](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/51677715072_PrinceHarryandMeg.jpg)
Putera Harry, Meghan diminta kosongkan kediaman di Istana Britain
Putera Harry dan Meghan diminta kosongkan kediaman di Istana Britain
![Harry, Meghan 'menghadap' Ratu Elizabeth dalam kunjungan mengejut ke UK Harry, Meghan 'menghadap' Ratu Elizabeth dalam kunjungan mengejut ke UK](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/51530088900_MeghanMarkle.jpg)
Harry, Meghan 'menghadap' Ratu Elizabeth dalam kunjungan mengejut ke UK
Selepas hampir dua tahun 'memutuskan' hubungan dengan keluarga diraja Britain, Putera Harry dan isteri, Meghan Markle akhirnya kembali 'menghadap' Ratu Elizabeth II, Khamis lalu.
![Meghan Markle menang kes mahkamah baharu terhadap penerbit tabloid UK Meghan Markle menang kes mahkamah baharu terhadap penerbit tabloid UK](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/41638462039_MeghanMarkle.jpg)
Meghan Markle menang kes mahkamah baharu terhadap penerbit tabloid UK
Meghan Markle memenangi pusingan terbaharu perjuangan privasinya yang berpanjangan dengan penerbit Mail.
![Puteri Diana dinobat wanita diraja dengan wajah paling sempurna Puteri Diana dinobat wanita diraja dengan wajah paling sempurna](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/71621007181_puteridiana.jpg)
Puteri Diana dinobat wanita diraja dengan wajah paling sempurna
Diana menewaskan Permaisuri Rania dari Jordan dan dua menantunya, Kate Middleton dan Meghan Markle.
![Putera Harry tiba di UK untuk majlis pengebumian Putera Philip Putera Harry tiba di UK untuk majlis pengebumian Putera Philip](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/61618176766_PrincePhilip.jpg)
Putera Harry tiba di UK untuk majlis pengebumian Putera Philip
Putera Harry tiba di United Kingdon pada Ahad bagi menziarahi serta menyertai majlis pengebumian datuknya Putera Philip.