News | Entertainment
22 Dec 2025 10:40
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
     22 Dec: King Charles will be able to work five days a week again in the new year
     22 Dec: Dick Van Dyke's 100th birthday celebrations were "perfect"
     22 Dec: Grimes claims Elon Musk blocked her on X
     22 Dec: Catherine, Princess of Wales left a handwritten note at an art installation dedicated to those who have lost their lives to cancer
     22 Dec: Jennifer Aniston will spend the holiday season with new love Jim Curtis
     22 Dec: Tom Brady and Jelly Roll were among the stars paying tribute to John Cena as he retired from the WWE
     22 Dec: Wonka star Timothee Chalamet reportedly splurged over £3,000 on chocolates whilst on a lavish trip to London
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The man who's helped steer Dame Lisa Carrington to eighth Olympic gold medals feels he's stepping away from coaching at the right time More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A big focus on financial performance at state-owned farms More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Albanese announces national gun buyback scheme 10:37

    Politics:
    Suggestions the new curriculum reforms risk widening the equity gap in schools 10:27

    National:
    More than just being well: teens and Gen Z are redefining what it means to be healthy 10:27

    Entertainment:
    King Charles will be able to work five days a week again in the new year 10:20

    Politics:
    Appeals for public financial support as a sexual violence support group prepares for 2026 funding cuts 10:17

    National:
    No gym or regular routine? Here’s how to stay fit over the holiday break 10:17

    Soccer:
    Liverpool footballer Alexander Isak is set for a stint on the sidelines 10:07

    Rugby:
    The man who's helped steer Dame Lisa Carrington to eighth Olympic gold medals feels he's stepping away from coaching at the right time 10:07

    Law and Order:
    Scammers won’t take a break over Christmas. Here’s how to make a plan with your family to stay safe 10:07

    Environment:
    A call for New Zealanders to do the checks before hydrating or swimming this summer 10:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd