In this Monday, March 9, 2020 file photo, Britain鈥檚 Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex receives flowers as she leaves after attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London. A preliminary hearing in the Duchess of Sussex鈥檚 legal case against the Mail on Sunday and its parent company, Associated 黑料社papers, is set to take place in Britain鈥檚 High Court on Friday, April 24, 2020, as Meghan challenges the publication of a letter she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
LONDON 鈥� A preliminary hearing opened Friday at Britain鈥檚 High Court in the Duchess of Sussex鈥檚 legal action against a British newspaper that published what she describes as a 鈥減rivate and confidential鈥� letter she wrote to her father.
Meghan is suing the Mail on Sunday and its parent company, Associated 黑料社papers, for publishing a letter she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle. The civil lawsuit accuses the newspaper of copyright infringement, misuse of private information, and violating the U.K.鈥檚 data protection law.
Associated 黑料社papers denies the allegations 鈥� particularly the claim that the letter was presented in a way that changed its meaning. The company has said it intends to vigorously fight the case.
Lawyers for Associated 黑料社papers will ask the court to strike out parts of Meghan鈥檚 case ahead of a full trial of the issues, arguing that allegations of 鈥渄ishonesty and malicious intent鈥� should not form part of her case.
As the hearing opened via video conferencing, Anthony White, a lawyer representing the publisher, told the judge that lawyers for Meghan had made 鈥渇urther assertions of improper, deliberate conduct,鈥� and accused the publisher of 鈥渉arassing, humiliating, manipulating and exploiting鈥� Thomas Markle.
Harry and Meghan were expected to listen in to the part of the hearing conducted by her lawyers.
Thomas Markle鈥檚 strained relationship with his daughter complicated Meghan鈥檚 entry into the royal family.
He had been due to walk Meghan down the aisle at her May 2018 wedding, but pulled out at the last minute, citing heart problems. The former television lighting director has given occasional interviews to the media, complaining in December 2018 that he鈥檇 been 鈥済hosted鈥� by his daughter after the wedding.
The letter was written three months after the royal wedding at Windsor Castle.
Analysts have compared the legal case to the late Princess Diana鈥檚 lawsuit over photographs showing her exercising on gym equipment. The case was settled before it was to be heard.