This Thursday, October 29th, the British justice system postponed to autumn 2021 the lawsuit brought by Meghan Markle, against the publishing company of the Daily Mail. Only her father claimed to be in poor health by then.
In January 2021, Meghan Markle’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail and its Sunday version the Mail on Sunday, was due to begin. The Duchess of Sussex will try everything to win her case against the press group that runs the tabloids, which she has decided to sue for invasion of privacy.
As a reminder, the newspaper had published extracts from a letter that the Duchess had sent to her father Thomas Markle in August 2018. Only in the end did the British courts postpone the trial until the fall of 2021.
On Thursday, October 29, the former actress’s lawyers requested that the trial be postponed “much later in the year” for “confidential reasons”. This request was made at a hearing closed to the public at the High Court in London. As a result, the trial of Meghan Markle is expected to take place in the fall of 2021, most likely in October.
A complicated physical condition
Only by then, Meghan Markle’s father may not be alive, as he would be suffering from heart and lung problems. Markle said in a statement released by Elizabeth Hartley, the legal director of Associated Newspapers, “This lawsuit is causing me anxiety and I want to get it over with as soon as possible. I am 76 years old, and because of my heart disease and the operation, I am on blood thinners which have a bad effect on my breathing,” he said, reported the Daily Mail.
Markle added that his condition prevents him from walking for long periods of time, or climbing stairs, because of his shortness of breath. In addition, he said he is “clinically obese” and has gained “even more weight in recent months” because he has not been able to leave his house or exercise.
Finally, Thomas Markle concluded, “No male family member has lived past 80 years. I am realistic and I can die tomorrow. The sooner the trial takes place, the better.” In the upcoming trial, Thomas Markle is expected to present evidence in front of his daughter Meghan Markle, who is expected to take the stand.