🔗 Share this article

The Duchess of Sussex has alleged that the newspaper crossed "clear ethical boundaries" by reporting from the bedside of her father, from whom she is estranged, following his assertions that he had not received his daughter's messages.

An Open Plea and a Private Struggle

Meghan's father publicly asked Meghan to visit him in a weekend interview, after having serious surgery in the Philippines.

Nonetheless, a representative for Meghan said that she had been attempting to reach her father and criticised the publication's conduct.

"Considering a Daily Mail reporter has stayed at her father’s bedside throughout, publicizing each interaction and crossing clear ethical boundaries, it has been extremely hard for the duchess to contact her father in private, notwithstanding her efforts over the past several days," the representative stated. "Thanks to reliable and trusted associates, her correspondence is now safely in his hands."

Outlet's Denial

A representative for the publishing group of the newspapers denied any ethical breach and said that Mr. Markle was a friend of the reporter who interviewed him.

"When Thomas Markle was taken ill in the Philippines he reached out to Caroline Graham and asked her travel to be with him," said the spokesperson. "Not only is she a journalist, Caroline Graham has been friends with Mr Markle for years. She has been with Mr Markle in hospital every day, offering him care and support."

The company representative continued, "The claim is completely false that each exchange has been publicized, and the suggestion that journalistic ethics were violated is patently untrue and strongly contested."

A History of Strain

The row comes a tense few days in which Meghan is understood to have been attempting to reach her father. Her representatives claim they had struggled to locate him or find a way to communicate with him privately.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when she married Prince Harry. Their relationship further deteriorated after a personal letter she wrote to him, parts of which were published in the Mail on Sunday, which she said "marked the end of our relationship, not a reconciliation."

Forthcoming Court Case

This disagreement precedes by weeks the Duke of Sussex is due to begin a legal case against the owner of the Daily Mail over claims of illegal data collection.

In that court case, scheduled for next month, the publisher is being taken to court by Prince Harry and a group of high-profile figures. The plaintiffs allege the newspaper group engaged in illegal practices. The publisher vehemently denies all accusations.