MEGHAN Markle's privacy battle heads to court today as the next phase of her action against the Mail on Sunday gets underway.
The summary judgement hearing will be heard Mr Justice Warby over two days remotely rather than in court due to covid restrictions.
Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers, the owner of the newspaper over what she claims was a “tripled barrelled” invasion of her rights when it published a “quintessentially” private letter she sent to her father.
An application for summary judgment is an attempt by the claimant to have their case heard without the need to go to trial or call witnesses and is usually made when either no defence or no realistic defence is offered.
As that is not the case in this scenario, the call for a summary judgment seems highly likely to be Meghan's way at
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- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEGHAN AND THOMAS MARKLE SAGA CONTINUES
Meghan Markle claims publishing a letter she wrote to her dad was a "triple-barrelled invasion of privacy" as she fights to avoid a High Court showdown with him.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, is suing the Mail on Sunday for privacy copyright and data protection over five articles published in February 2019.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
COUPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE CROWN – BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Harry and Meghan will not be able to influnce other Netflix shows despite their huge deal.
But what does that mean?
A source said: ""Essentially that means The Crown's storyline, plots or subject matter cannot be altered by the Sussexes.
"In reality Harry cannot edit his controversial moments off Netflix just because he and his wife have a huge deal.
"While The Crown was broadly discussed, there was no hard bargaining by the Sussexes about that during the deal making.
"Their prime concern was solely the TV projects which they were focused on, their passions and very little else."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEG & HARRY DIDN'T PUT UP A FIGHT OVER NETFLIX SHOWS
An insider has shared how Meghan and Harry were not fussed that they could not affect editorial decisions for other Netflix shows – including the Crown.
The source said: "The subject of The Crown was brought up, but the service has always stood firm that they leave the editorial of that show to film makers Leftbank and show creator Peter Morgan and unless a legal matter, there is no interference.
'The Duke And Duchess did not fight over this, which may be seen by some as odd given the next time period the show will cover."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEG LABELLED AS NEW KIM K
Meghan Markle has been branded "the new Kim K" after striking her and Prince Harry's lucrative Netflix deal.
Aninsider for the streaming giant revealed the network had enjoyed a "relatively easy negotiation with the Sussexes" as they thrashed out their multi-million deal – which led to Meghan being labelled the "new Kim Kardashian".
The source added: "The Sussexes were more concerned and consumed about their own image and ideas rather than what else was being screened on Netflix."
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO TODAY
One year ago tomorrow the couple took to their Instagram account to post about the UK -Africa investment summit 2020.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
COUPLE BANNED FROM INPUT IN ROYAL SHOWS
Netflix bosses refused to allow The Duke and Duchess of Sussex any editorial control or input on shows outside of their own $112 million deal, The Sun can reveal.
It means that Prince Harry cannot ask Netflix executives to scrap scenes from their biggest show The Crown – which is set to feature storylines about his childhood and his mother's death – from their upcoming seasons five and six.
Furthermore the California based couple will not be consulted about commissioning shows which may be deemed "anti Royal or have negative connotations for their wider family and friends" a Netflix insider revealed.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
CAN YOU SOLVE THIS ROYAL RIDDLE?
"The former actress must have decided Rachel didn’t Suits her and that her middle name is fit for a princess, kind of."
What is the answer?
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
HOW DOES MEGHAN MAINTAIN HER GLOW?
Meghan Markle has always strenuously denied having any tweakments to maintain her glow.
While her face remains the same, it seems she has picked a darker shade for her raven locks.
But we know that Meghan, 39, loves facials and enjoys experimenting with skincare.
It was recently revealed that she enjoys Dernalux LED phototherapy facials as well as being a huge fan of facialist Nichola Joss and her unique inner facial technique.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
LOOKALIKE?
Viewers of The Cabins have been left scratching their heads after newbie Ashleigh revealed she is a Meghan Markle look-a-like.
The 23-year-old farmer's daughter made her entrance on Friday night's show before moving into a cabin with fellow countryman Stuart.
One tweeted: "Megan who look alike? erm… #TheCabins."
Another commented: "Meghan Markle look a like?! Really?! #TheCabins."
A third even shared a picture of blind musician Stevie Wonder, musing: "Professional Meghan Markle lookalike? For who Stevie Wonder?"
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEGHAN AND HARRY'S NOTE TO VETERANS
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEG HONOURS VETERANS ON MLK DAY
Meghan and Harry sent a heartwarming note to veterans yesterday to thank them for their service in honour of Martin Luther King Day.
"In honour of this day of service, and in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all that he stood for, we want to send our thanks and gratitude to the team at The Mission Continues," a note sent by Harry and Meghan to the organization.
"We're so proud of all the work you're doing to support your community and hope you enjoy this small token of our appreciation," the letter read.
"Thank you for your service – today and every day. we look forward to joining you soon!"
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
MEGHAN AND HARRY DONATE LUNCH TO VETERANS
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex donated lunch to a team of veterans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday.
The royal couple dished out free meals to the veterans-led organization The Mission Continues.
- Lottie Tiplady-Bishop
DELAY EXPECTED ON EUGENIE REVEALING BABY'S NAME
Princess Eugenie is expecting her first child with Jack Brooksbank in early 2021, and while royal parents typically announce the name a couple of days after the birth, the couple may decide to break with tradition.
While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge typically have taken around two days to announce the names of their newborns, other royals have waited a little longer to confirm the names of their youngsters.
The Duke and Duchess of York and did not formally announce Eugenie's older sister Princess Beatrice's name until almost two weeks after her birth in August 1988.
It's thought that Eugenie and Jack may also decide to wait a while before releasing their little one's name to the public.
- Martha Cliff
ARCHEWELL 'AT RISK OF FAILING'
According to the Express Patrick Jephson voiced his concerns during a virtual conference promoting and protecting personal brands in the US.
He said: “If it departs very much from that great tradition of personal sacrifice and public service that defines the monarchy brand then I don’t believe it will succeed.
“One could argue that, at it's best, membership of the Royal Family gives you access to the most extraordinary and powerful brand in the world.
“To voluntarily divest yourselves of all those advantages in pursuit of something else is very daring – and we don't even know what that something else is.”
- Martha Cliff
ARCHIE IS LIVING AN ‘ENID BLYTON LIFE’
Analysing the Sussexes' latest Christmas card, body language expert Judi James claims the couple have made a conscious effort to protect their privacy while also presenting an idealised version of their new life in California.
She told Fabulous: "This digitalised picture seems to glorify the Enid Blyton-style childhoods of vintage storybooks, suggesting a very besotted-looking Harry and Meghan are set on creating a look of idyllic, rustic intimacy rather than posing up the garden in their multi-million dollar mansion.
"There is a suggestion from the pose that Meghan wants to contain and protect her precious family unit. Harry sits inside the tiny playhouse here, holding his face close to Archie’s and grinning at his son, who he holds with both hands."
- Martha Cliff
THIS IS THE SECRET BEHIND MEG’S WEDDING SONG
The couple have revealed the poignant reason behind playing the song This Little Light Of Mine at their wedding.
Speaking on their new Archewell podcast the Duchess of Sussex, 39, said: "It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together.”
Meghan said: “This Little Light of Mine played at the very end of our wedding…while we were walking down the steps of the church.
"It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together. Because as we all know, 'darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that…"
- Martha Cliff
MEGHAN’S SNACKING HABITS REVEALED
Meghan has spoken a fair bit about her diet in the past, and confirmed that one of her go-to healthy snacks is watermelon.
In a past interview, she said: “On set and at home, I try to always have a container of watermelon sprinkled with cinnamon because it elevates the flavour just a notch, and makes it feel special."
The mum-of-one also prefers a healthy drink to gorging on takeaways.
Speaking of her fast food choices, she told The Chalkboard in a past chat: "A green juice. That’s fast. And it’s food. It’s been many moons since I went through a drive thru."
- Martha Cliff
MEGHAN MAY WRITE A NOVEL
An insider has claimed Meghan Markle wants to follow in Prince Charles and Sarah Ferguson's footsteps and give fiction writing a go.
An insider said: "Fiction is something she has always wanted to try her hand at, and she could be assured that anything she writes would sell well, regardless of its quality.
"Fiction, be it children's books or adult, would be a powerful way of conveying the messages of their woke brand."
- Martha Cliff
THIS IS THE £19 PRODUCT MEG USES TO LOOK MORE AWAKE
The duchess has opted for a nude-tone of eye pencil instead of her trademark dark eyeliner, make-up expert Francesca Abrahamovitch told the Daily Mail.
And Charlotte Tilbury sells the perfect one for just £19.
And she's been applying it just below her lower waterline, which can make anyone look like they've had a full eight hours sleep (sounds like magic to us).
Francesca said: "If you still want smoulder, smudge your dark pencil below it.
"As long as you steer clear of that all-important waterline, you'll maintain the eye-brightening illusion."
- Martha Cliff
ARCHIE PICKS UP MEG’S AMERICAN ACCENT
Archie could be heard speaking for the first time when he wished listeners a Happy New Year on his parents Archewell podcast.
And listeners heard how the tot had picked up his mum’s American accent.
Experts at Spoons voices said: “There are a number of studies that suggest children pick up accents from the environment they're in or people they're around the most.
“Archie could be spending loads of time with mama Meghan hence a slight leaning towards her accent.
“The great thing is that having to recognise the same words pronounced in different ways will supercharge young Archie's ability to map and connect words to meanings.”
- Martha Cliff
THESE ARE MEG’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
The former actress previously admitted that nail biting and swearing make her list of New Year's resolutions every year without fail.
On her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, the Duchess of Sussex, 38, revealed her struggle to give up the two very un-royal qualities back in January 2016, according to the Daily Telegraph.
She wrote: "These make my New Year's resolution list nearly (AKA actually every) single year.
"The swearing comes in lulls triggered by being overworked or feeling mighty cheeky after a couple drinks.
"And when it comes to the biting of the nails — well, it still happens with a turbulent flight or a stressful day.
"It's unladylike. But then again, so is the swearing. Dammit."
- Martha Cliff
DELAY EXPECTED ON EUGENIE REVEALING BABY'S NAME
Princess Eugenie is expecting her first child with Jack Brooksbank in early 2021, and while royal parents typically announce the name a couple of days after the birth, the couple may decide to break with tradition.
While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge typically have taken around two days to announce the names of their newborns, other royals have waited a little longer to confirm the names of their youngsters.
The Duke and Duchess of York and did not formally announce Eugenie's older sister Princess Beatrice's name until almost two weeks after her birth in August 1988.
It's thought that Eugenie and Jack may also decide to wait a while before releasing their little one's name to the public.
- Olivia Burke
COLMAN WAS MISCAST IN THE CROWN SAYS ROYAL EXPERT
ROYAL expert Richard Fitzwilliams was less than impressed with Olivia Colman's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 'The Crown'.
He laid into Olivia on Twitter, posting: "She plays the Queen in @NetflixTheCrown as cold, callous & duplicitous with a chirpy laugh.
"No dignity! A bad piece of miscasting."
The Oscar-winning actress is leaving her role on Netflix's controversial drama and will be replaced by Imelda Staunton for the final two seasons.
Olivia won Best Actress in a Television Drama at the Golden Globes for her performance, although she found it tough playing such a diverse character.
- Olivia Burke
ODDS ON EUGIENIE AND JACKS BABY NAME
WITH Princess Eugienie and husband Jack's baby likely to be born in mid-February, Betfair have released their baby name odds on the latest addition to the royal family.
See the full list of Betfair's odds below:
- Alice: 8/1
- Arthur: 8/1
- Godfrey: 10/1
- Grace: 10/1
- Henry: 10/1
- Thomas: 14/1
- Augusta: 14/1
- Alexandra: 14/1
- Victoria: 16/1
- Victor: 16/1
- Diana: 20/1
- Albert: 20/1
- Edith: 20/1
- George: 20/1
- Isabella: 22/1
- Charles: 22/1
- Edward: 25/1
- Edmund: 25/1
- Mary: 33/1
- Frederick: 40/1
- Philip: 50/1
- Emily: 66/1
- William: 66/1
- Camilla: 100/1
- Andrew: 100/1
- Fiona: 125/1
- Boris: 200/1
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: "Royal fans are excited to kick off 2021 with another baby due next month – and expect Eugenie and Jack to stick with traditional names."
ROYALS LIVE IN THE LARGEST OCCUPIED CASTLE IN THE WORLD
The Queen and Prince Phillip's current home of Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world.
Although the Queen's official home is Buckingham Palace, the monarch and her husband Prince Phillip have been staying at their second home, Windsor Castle during the pandemic.
It has about 1,000 rooms and 484,000 square feet of space and is used as a working royal palace for private events such as weddings, christenings and birthdays, as well as for state visits and banquets.
The monarch usually resides at Windsor for a month at Easter and stays there while attending the Royal Ascot.
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