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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is suing
Associated Newspapers over articles in the Mail on Sunday that
included parts of a handwritten letter she had sent to her
estranged father, Thomas Markle, in August 2018.
Last month, the Mail successfully applied for permission to
amend its case, arguing that the couple had cooperated with a
biography about them, "Finding Freedom", which was published in
August.
A hearing to consider costs and case-management issues was due
to take place on Thursday ahead of a trial in January.
But Meghan's lawyers have submitted an application for the trial
to be put back to a later date. A judge will decide on Thursday
on the plea.
As well as an adjournment, Meghan is arguing her case is
suitable for a summary judgment, and is urging the judge to
strike out the Mail on Sunday's defence.
Lawyers for Meghan say the letter's publication was a misuse of
private information and breached her copyright. They are seeking
aggravated damages from the paper.
As part of the claim, the lawyers argue the Mail had
deliberately omitted parts of the letter, which was never
intended to be made public, to paint the royals in a poor light.
Meghan and Harry are now living in Los Angeles with their baby
son Archie, having stepped down from their royal roles at the
end of March.
Increasingly hostile relations between the royal couple and some
British newspapers they accused of intrusive, inaccurate and
sometimes racist coverage was one of the reasons why the couple
left Britain for the United States.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Stephen Addison)
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