Meghan Markle has alleged that the newspaper crossed "obvious ethical boundaries" by operating at the bedside of her estranged father, after his assertions that he had not received his daughter's communications.
A Public Appeal and a Secret Effort
Thomas Markle appealed to Meghan to visit him in a weekend interview, after having major surgery abroad.
Nonetheless, a representative for Meghan stated that she had been trying to contact her father and criticised the paper's conduct.
"Considering a journalist from the outlet has remained at her father’s side the entire time, publicizing each interaction and crossing clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the duchess to contact her father privately, notwithstanding her efforts over the past few days," the spokesperson stated. "Thanks to reliable and trusted associates, her correspondence is now safely in his hands."
Publisher's Rebuttal
A representative for the parent company of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday denied unethical behaviour and said that Mr. Markle was a longtime acquaintance of the reporter who interviewed him.
"After Thomas Markle was taken ill in the Philippines he contacted the journalist and requested she travel to be with him," stated the spokesman. "As well as being 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, "It is entirely untrue that each exchange has been publicized, and the allegation that journalistic ethics were breached is demonstrably false and vehemently denied."
Background of Estrangement
The dispute comes a period of difficulty in which Meghan is understood to have been trying to contact her father. Her team claim they had faced challenges to find him or establish a method to communicate with him privately.
Meghan has been distant from her father since her wedding, when she married Prince Harry. Their relationship further deteriorated after a personal letter she wrote to him, parts of which were printed 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 publisher of the Daily Mail over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
In that court case, scheduled for next month, the publisher is being sued by Prince Harry and a group of high-profile figures. The plaintiffs contend the newspaper group carried out unlawful activities. The publisher vehemently denies all allegations.
