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Meghan Markle has alleged that the Daily Mail breached "clear ethical boundaries" by operating at the hospital room of her father, from whom she is estranged, following his claims that he had not gotten his daughter's communications.

A Public Appeal and a Secret Effort

Thomas Markle publicly asked Meghan to visit him in a weekend interview, after undergoing major surgery in the Philippines.

However, a spokesperson for Meghan stated that she had been trying to contact her father and criticised the paper's conduct.

"Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father’s bedside throughout, broadcasting each exchange and crossing clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the royal to contact her father in private, notwithstanding her attempts over the past few days," the representative stated. "With the support of trusted contacts, her message is now securely in his hands."

Outlet's Denial

A spokesperson for the publishing group of the newspapers denied any ethical breach and said that Mr. Markle was a longtime acquaintance of the journalist who interviewed him.

"When Thomas Markle was fell ill in the Philippines he reached out to Caroline Graham and requested she travel to be with him," stated the spokesperson. "As well as being a journalist, she has been a friend to Mr Markle for years. She has been with Mr Markle in hospital every day, offering him care and support."

The company representative added, "It is entirely untrue that each interaction has been publicized, and the allegation that ethical boundaries were violated is patently untrue and strongly contested."

Background of Estrangement

The dispute follows a tense few days in which Meghan is understood to have been attempting to reach her father. Her representatives claim they had struggled to find him or establish a method to communicate with him privately.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when she married Prince Harry. Their relationship further deteriorated when a personal letter she wrote to him, extracts of which were published in the Sunday paper, an act she said "actually signalled the end of our relationship, not a reconciliation."

Upcoming Legal Battle

This disagreement comes weeks before the Duke of Sussex is due to begin a legal case against the publisher of the Daily Mail over claims of unlawful information gathering.

In that trial, scheduled for next month, the publisher is being sued by Prince Harry and a group of high-profile individuals. The claimants contend the newspaper group carried out illegal practices. The publisher strongly disputes all accusations.