British Tabloid to Pay Meghan Markle Only $1.35 to Settle Years-Long Legal BattleThe legal battle between the Duchess and the Mail has spanned over three years.

ByEmily Rella

NDZ/Star Max | Getty Images

A three-year-long legal battle has come to a halt and a tongue-in-cheek win for Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

Markle took on Associated Newspapers, the parent company to British tabloid theMail on Sunday(which also runs MailOnline in digital format) after the outlet published excerpts from a handwritten letter she wrote to estranged father, Thomas Markle.

The duchess sued theMailon grounds of privacy infringement, and after threats of bringing the case to the UK Supreme Court, settled the case for a sum that she will befinally be paidon January 9 — $1.35 (the equivalent of just £1.)

Associated Newspapers will also pay Markle a "confidential" sum regarding her claims of copyright infringement (because she authored the letter that was reprinted without her legal permission) and potentially cover part of her legal costs, if ordered by the court.

"This is a victory not just for me, but for anyone who has ever felt scared to stand up for what's right," Marklesaid last monthafter theMaillost its request to appeal the case after a judge ruled in her favor without a formal trial earlier in 2021. "While this win is precedent-setting, what matters most is that we are now collectively brave enough to reshape a tabloid industry that conditions people to be cruel, and profits from the lies and pain that they create."

The low sum backs Markle's claims that she was trying to make noise to change the tabloid industry, not necessarily gain money from the legal battle.

"The courts have held the defendant to account, and my hope is that we all begin to do the same. Because as far removed as it may seem from your personal life, it's not," shesaid. "Tomorrow it could be you. These harmful practices don't happen once in a blue moon — they are a daily fail that divide us, and we all deserve better."

Markle's settlement with theMailalso required the outlet to carry out front page statements (both in print and online) about losing the case, which it did on December 26.

It is estimated the duchess' legal costs exceed £1 million.

Wavy Line
Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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