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Officials at Britain’s the Mail On Sunday newspaper vowed to “vigorously defend” themselves against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s lawsuit.

On Tuesday, Prince Harry released a rare statement, revealing he and Meghan have filed a lawsuit against the Mail over misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, claimed the publication published false information in the “intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex”, to her estranged father Thomas Markle.

The royals claim parts of the letter were edited and redacted, but representatives for the Mail on Sunday insist they stand by the initial story, and intend to fight the lawsuit.

In a lengthy statement on his personal website, Prince Harry wrote,

“Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”

He added:

“My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

In an editorial for the Daily Mail Online, Piers Morgan said Harry is “playing the victim card.”

“Oh please. Give me a bloody break, your royal highness!” Morgan said.

“The old Prince Harry, the courageous soldier and fun-loving party boy, would never have spewed such sanctimonious guff,” Morgan wrote.

Morgan added that Harry has been “Meghan-ed” by his wife, who is pulling his strings.

“Sadly, he’s been Meghan-ed and that means when he’s not pontificating piously about progressive woke issues, he’s playing the victim card.”

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Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan visited the Tembisa Township to learn about Youth Employment Services during their royal tour of South Africa in Johannesburg on Wednesday, October 2.

Royal watchers were delighted to see the Duchess wearing another of her favorite oversized shirt dresses.