Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will face questioning in a defamation case launched against them by Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, according to a newly released report.
Samantha alleged that Meghan defamed her during the duchess of Sussex’s March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which Samantha claims Meghan “falsely and maliciously” called herself an “only child,” according to BBC. Samantha filed a lawsuit against Meghan for “defamation and injurious falsehoods.” Meghan attempted to stop depositions from taking place, but her motion was dismissed Tuesday by Florida judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell, BBC reported.
A Florida judge sided with Meghan Markle’s half-sister and ordered the Duke and Duchess to give depositions for Samantha Markle’s lawsuit. https://t.co/tWvXeAgww7
— Radar Online (@radar_online) February 8, 2023
Meghan and Prince Harry sat for the now-infamous interview to speak about their experience of life with the royal family. They also revealed their struggles with mental health and delved into their respective family histories.
Samantha filed a lawsuit against the couple in March 2022, claiming that their interview “disseminated false and malicious statements” which subjected Samantha to “humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale,” according to BBC. (RELATED: ‘It’s A Dirty Game’: Prince Harry Slams Royals’ Treatment Of Meghan Markle In New Doc Trailer)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ordered to sit for deposition in defamation case https://t.co/uNiMG9WnOr
— The Vancouver Sun (@VancouverSun) February 8, 2023
Samantha’s suit accuses Meghan of using “the powerful resources of the Royal Family’s public relations operation” to “spread lies worldwide” about both Samantha, and her father Thomas Markle, according to BBC.
In the motion, Samantha alleges that Meghan launched what she described as a “premeditated campaign to destroy their reputation and credibility” in what she believed to be an attempt “to preserve and promote the false ‘rags to riches’ narrative,” the outlet reported.