Meghan Markle is being sued by her half-sister for allegedly lying about her upbringing in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Samantha Markle claims in court papers the Duchess of Sussex defamed her telling untruths about her and her family during the interview last March.
A lawyer acting on behalf of Meghan has branded the lawsuit “baseless and absurd” adding they would give it “the minimum attention necessary”.
Her attorney Michael Kump said: "This baseless and absurd lawsuit is just a continuation of a pattern of disturbing behaviour. We will give it the minimum attention necessary, which is all it deserves."
According to Samantha, who shares the same father as the former actress, Meghan's “rags to royalty” story is “false”.
She claims she “fabricated” details of her background to the Royal Family, the media and during TV interviews.
Samantha accuses her half-sibling of launching a “premeditated campaign to destroy” her and her father's reputation.
The 57-year-old claims her sister tried to ruin their credibility so “they could not interfere with or contradict the false narrative and fairy tale life story concocted by the defendant”.
Her lawsuit also alleges Meghan lied when she claimed to Winfrey she “essentially raised herself from virtual poverty” and from 13 had to take on low-paying jobs to “make ends meet”.
The lawsuit also mentions Meghan's claims she had no siblings, little contact with her half brother and sister and her family could only afford the £3.75 salad, saying all are incorrect.
She disputed Meghan’s allegation she had met her only “a handful of times” and she had “never had a relationship with” her or their father.
During her interview with Winfrey, alongside husband Prince Harry, the Duchess said she had not seen her half-sister in "at least 18, 19 years."
On their relationship, the lawsuit, filed in Tampa, Florida, states: “This is false. Samantha spent time with defendant on a regular basis throughout her childhood and even lived in the same apartment house with defendant for a period of time.
“Samantha picked up Meghan from school; took Meghan for ice cream and to the mall regularly, and spent many family holidays with the defendant.
“Meghan's father was Meghan's primary caregiver and Meghan and Samantha saw each other regularly.”
It goes on: “This is an attempt by Meghan to create the false impression that Meghan was essentially an only child with no contact with other family members, or as Meghan stated on Oprah, that she had 'no siblings'.
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“Meghan apparently wanted to convince the public that her family members knew nothing about her life and, thus, were not qualified to contradict the false narrative Meghan had fabricated about her life.”
Samantha is seeking $75,000 (£56,500) from her half-sister and has demanded a trial by jury for the case.
The lawsuit is the latest legal case to involve the Sussexes.
They previously brought an action against the Mail on Sunday over a letter Meghan wrote to her father, Thomas Markle.
Harry, 37, has an ongoing case against the Home Office over police protection for himself and his family while in the UK.
Last week it emerged he was suing the Mail on Sunday over another article.
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