News | Entertainment
15 Oct 2025 20:19
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has again asked for a lawsuit brought against her by her half-sister be dismissed

    The 40-year-old royal is being sued for defamation by 57-year-old Samantha Markle, who has claimed the former 'Suits' actress made "false and malicious statements" about her in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, and she has branded the lawsuit "meritless"


    Meghan - who has children Archie, three, and Lili, 12 months, with husband Prince Harry - originally filed to have the case dismissed on 17 June but the judge denied the duchess' request four days later because Samantha had filed an amended complaint.

    As a result, on Monday (27.06.22), the former 'Suits' actress filed a new motion for dismissal, arguing against the claims made in the author's "meritless defamation case" and insisting Samantha had deleted numerous specific factual allegations and exhibits from her original complaint," claiming that the facts would "completely undermine" her estranged half-sibling's case.

    Documents obtained by Us Weekly magazine added: "Most obviously, her original complaint attached a 2018 email from Meghan to the then-Communications Secretary of Kensington Palace, Jason Knauf, that Plaintiff alleged was the basis for the allegedly defamatory statements in 'Finding Freedom'.

    "However, the email on its face disproved Plaintiff's claim that Meghan was somehow responsible for the authors' allegedly defamatory statements in 'Finding Freedom'.

    "Indeed, in her desperation to save her case, Plaintiff quite literally fabricated one of the statements, as evidenced by the missing interview transcript."

    Samantha had previously claimed Meghan was not honest about her past relationships with her family when she told Oprah Winfrey she had never been close to her half-sister or half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. when she was growing up.

    The duchess said at the time: "I grew up as an only child, which everyone who grew up around me knows, and I wished I had siblings. I would have loved to have had siblings.

    "[She] changed her last name back to Markle in her early 50s ... only when I started dating Harry. So, I think that says enough."

    Samantha insisted Meghan had lied so she and her father, Thomas Markle "could not interfere with or contradict the false narrative and fairytale life story [she] concocted."

    But Meghan doesn't feel the nature of their familial relationships should form the basis of a lawsuit.

    Her documents stated: "We do not empanel juries to rule on whether two people are 'close,' or whether one genuinely feels that they 'grew up as an only child.

    "Courts are not equipped to adjudicate the legitimacy of a person's feelings about their childhood and relationships. Nor should they be. ... This dispute has no place in this Court or any other."

    Meghan also requested to be awarded her attorney's fees.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     15 Oct: Shonda Rhimes doesn't know how Grey's Anatomy will end
     15 Oct: Sam Asghari wishes "the happiest" for Britney Spears
     15 Oct: Abducted by Hamas, Noa never lost hope she would see her 'soulmate' again
     15 Oct: Paris Jackson is "learning to navigate life on life's terms"
     15 Oct: Woody Allen has paid a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and former lover Diane Keaton
     15 Oct: Johnny Depp joined Patti Smith for a special performance to mark the 50th anniversary of her album Horses
     15 Oct: Taylor Swift will release a docuseries about her Eras Tour in December
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Former New Zealand halfback Ant Strachan has commended Folau Fakatava for working his way back into the minds of All Blacks selectors More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Mooove over dairy and beef cows, for a new hybrid breed on the block More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Police are asking people to report any sightings around Hamilton of a grey Mazda ute belonging to a 39-year old man, who's been missing about two months 18:57

    Accident and Emergency:
    A burning vehicle's closed State Highway One in Tasman in both directions, north of Kekerengu 18:37

    Motoring:
    When is the F1 US Grand Prix, how can I watch and who is battling for the championship? 18:17

    Business:
    Mooove over dairy and beef cows, for a new hybrid breed on the block 18:07

    Health & Safety:
    Conjoined boys born in PNG bound for Australia for medical treatment 17:57

    Soccer:
    Put me in coach 17:37

    International:
    Hamas releases more remains of hostages as video of executions in Gaza emerges 17:37

    Politics:
    Hospitality New Zealand's throwing its support behind a Government inspection of sector rules 17:27

    Law and Order:
    A Gisborne teen accused of threatening to kill an MP has made his first appearance in the District Court today 17:27

    Motoring:
    Waikato's State Highway 30 - from Te Kuiti to Benneydale - is expected to open at 7pm - after being closed since yesterday's downpours 16:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd