Harry and Meghan to give testimony as part of US defamation case brought by duchess's half-sister

SKY NEWS

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be made to give testimony under oath as part of a US defamation case brought by the duchess’s half-sister – after a motion to block the testimonies was denied by a judge.

Samantha Markle is suing the duchess for “defamation and injurious falsehood” following the couple’s high-profile tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

In a filing submitted in March last year, Samantha Markle claimed that “demonstrably false and malicious statements” were made by Meghan to a “worldwide audience”.

The duchess previously filed a motion to stop depositions, where a person is made to give testimony under oath, from taking place in the case.

However, this motion was dismissed by Florida judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell on Tuesday.

“Defendant Markle does not show that unusual circumstances justify the requested stay, or that prejudice or an undue burden will result if the court does not impose a stay,” the documents state.

“Defendant Markle does not satisfy the high standard required to stay discovery pending the resolution of a dispositive motion.”

In their joint interview with US talk show host Winfrey in March 2021, Harry and Meghan spoke about both their families and made a series of allegations about the Royal Family.

Samantha Markle’s original complaint stated the comments made by the Sussexes during the interview had reached “roughly 50 million people in 17 countries”.