From Diana to Meghan Markle, the royal family has a long history of feuding with the press
It was recently revealed that Meghan Markle will be taking legal action against Daily Mail over the publication of a handwritten letter she had written to her estranged father.
The Duchess of Sussex alleged that the letter was edited to hide the lies that were reported about her and that its contents were published illegally.
Around the same time, Prince Harry issued a statement bashing the media for their portrayal of his wife. "Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of 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."
Harry also referenced his late mother Princess Diana in his statement saying that he fears history is repeating itself. He also highlighted that this is not the first time the royals have taken legal action against the press.
The couple is currently suing the parent company of Mail on Sunday alleging misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of UK's Data Protection Act 2018.
Harry is also suing the owners of London-headquartered tabloids The Sun and the Daily Mirror for alleged phone hacking.
This is not the first time the royal family has sued the press. Below is a rundown of the times the royals and the press locked horns.
The Queen
In 1987, The Sun made a payment to a charity and apologized to the Queen after they published a letter that was sent from the Queen to Prince Philip about Prince Edward and his decision to leave the Royal Marines. The very next year, The Sun was sued yet again after they stole a picture that was supposed to be used on the Queen's Christmas card and published it.
Years later, in 1993, the Queen once again sued The Sun. This time it was because they breached copyright. The newspaper had leaked a copy of the Queen's Christmas broadcast and had to pay £200,000 to a charity.
In 2003, Daily Mirror was stopped from publishing extra details about reporter Ryan Parry's work at the Buckingham Palace after the Queen won a permanent injunction against the publication.
Prince Charles
In the year 1995, Prince Charles banned his former Highgrove housekeeper from publishing her book after he won a court order. Her book was banned from being published in England and Scotland. Prince Charles also filed a court case in 2006 against the Mail on Sunday after details from his personal diary were published. The copy included his opinions on matters that regard to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
Princess Diana
In 1988, Princess Diana attempted to bring a breach of confidence against the Sunday Mirror after the tabloid published pictures of her working out in a gym. This case was taken to court and settled.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
In a move initiated by Prince Harry, Prince William—alongside Prince Charles and Kate Middleton's lawyers—threatened the media with legal action due to the increasing amount of scrutiny Kate Middleton was facing in 2007.
In 2010, Rex Features, a photographic agency, apologized publicly to Kate for invading her privacy. The agency also agreed to pay damages to the Duchess of Cambridge after she complained through her solicitors that a photographer took pictures of her during a private holiday in Cornwall during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In 2012, Prince William and Kate Middleton filed a criminal complaint against Closer magazine's French edition after they published topless images of the Duchess while she was sunbathing on a holiday in the south of France. Laurence Pieau, the editor of the magazine, and Ernesto Mauri, the owner of the magazine, were handed a fine of 45,000 euros ($73,290) in 2017.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In May earlier this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took a paparazzi news agency to the court after they shot aerial photos of their Cotswolds home. The couple was awarded substantial damages and a public apology.