Meghan seeks to postpone trial in her privacy case
LONDON (AP) - The Duchess of Sussex seeks to postpone the start of the trial in her privacy lawsuit against a British newspaper for the publication of fragments of private letters she wrote to her father.
The Duchess, formerly known as Meghan Markle, made the request ahead of a preliminary hearing in the case scheduled for Thursday, according to court documents. It comes after a ruling that allows the use in the case of a book on the decision of Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, to withdraw from their royal duties, opening a new line of questions.
The request represents the latest episode in a legal dispute that has served as a prelude to a 10-day trial that would begin in January. The request will be considered Thursday by Supreme Court Justice Mark Warby during an online hearing that will begin in private.
In her civil lawsuit, Meghan accuses the Mail on Sunday and its publisher, Associated Newspapers, of copyright infringement, misuse of private information and of violating UK data protection laws. The newspaper published excerpts from a letter Meghan wrote to her father after her wedding to Harry in May 2018.
The newspaper argues that there is a "huge and authentic public interest in the royal family and the activities, conduct and standards of behavior of its members" and affirms that such interest extends "to their personal and family relationships because these are integral to the good functioning of the monarchy ”.
