Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have no escape after the judge ruled they must be grilled in a deposition over her sister Samantha Markle's lawsuit.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reportedly Doing Deposition Over Samantha Markle's Case
The Duchess of Sussex attempted to stop the deposition by asking the US-based judge to halt the process. However, Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell refused, claiming that in doing so, the Court would likely "dismiss the action in it's entirety".
"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," she said in her ruling, Express reported.
"Although a preliminary peek at the motion to dismiss suggests that some of the claims against her may be ripe for dismissal, the review does not reveal, at this time, a clear indication that the Court will dismiss the action in its entirety."
The judge added that Markle did not satisfy the high standard required to stay discovery pending the resolution of a dispositive motion.
According to Daily Mail, the royal couple will be challenged to statements they made during their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that Samantha wants a response, including "Queen Elizabeth was not a racist" and "King Charles is not a racist."
Why Did Samantha Markle Sue Meghan Markle?
Samantha sued Markle for the things she said about their family during her and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah two years ago. She is seeking $75,000 in damages over the claims in their tell-all with Winfrey and in the 2020 biography Finding Freedom.
Samantha said Markle's allegations that they had no relationship subjected her to "humiliation, shame, and hatred on a worldwide scale." Also, she claimed that she suffered from emotional and mental distress and had trouble finding work due to the televised tell-all.
Samantha's lawsuit also debunked Markle's claim that she was forced to work at a young age to help with their family's expenses.
"Meghan falsely claimed that: (a) she essentially raised herself from virtual poverty; (b) she was forced from the age of 13 to work in a series of low-paying jobs to 'make ends meet," the lawsuit reads.
Samantha argued that their father, Thomas Markle Sr., provided for her needs, and Prince Harry's wife attended "elite and expensive private schools." She also dismissed Markle's claim that their dad refused to attend her royal wedding, emphasizing the former lighting director suffered two strokes due to stress.
Meanwhile, Markle's lawyer previously issued a statement in response to Samantha's lawsuit.
"This baseless and absurd lawsuit is just a continuation of a pattern of disturbing behavior. We will give it the minimum attention necessary, which is all it deserves," he said in a statement to TMZ.
What do you think will happen in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's deposition? Will Samantha Markle win her legal battle against her younger sister?
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Pop Culture