After a legal battle that lasted almost three years, Meghan Markle emerged victorious against Britain’s Mail on Sunday, a fact that had yet to be admitted publicly, that is, until yesterday.
Britain’s Mail on Sunday printed a front-page legal notice accepting the Duchess of Sussex’s court win. The win was acknowledged on the publication’s printed front-page mea culpa to Meghan alongside the court-ordered headline that confirms Meghan’s victory.
The legal defeat resulted in the Associated Newspapers paying out damages and £1.5 million in legal costs after the outlet published elements of a five-page letter Meghan wrote to her father shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.
"The Duchess of Sussex wins her legal case for copyright infringement against Associated Newspapers for articles published in The Mail on Sunday and posted on Mail Online," Sunday's front page notice reads.
The Mail on Sunday have accepted defeat and printed a front page notice following Meghan, Duchess of Sussex winning her legal case against the paper in May for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement. A large payout will follow in due course. pic.twitter.com/6r2a05j1hG
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) December 25, 2021
"Following a hearing on 19-20 January 2021, and a further hearing on 5 May 2021, the Court has given judgment for the Duchess of Sussex on her claim for copyright infringement. The Court found that Associated Newspapers infringed her copyright by publishing extracts of her handwritten letter to her father in The Mail on Sunday and on Mail Online. Financial remedies have been agreed," the remainder of the notice reads on the third page of the paper.
Tucked away in the top left corner of page three is the court-ordered “short report” the Mail on Sunday were required to print following Duchess Meghan’s High Court win in May. In his judgement summary, judge Lord Justice Warby dictated the exact wording and font size to be used. pic.twitter.com/xHdvqEjJz0
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) December 25, 2021
Since then, many people online have accused the publisher of releasing their admission on one of the quietest newspaper-buying days in the British media calendar, hoping that it would be swept under the rug.
🚨 Dear friends of SussexSquad, we're going to do this a tendency. the Mos wanted to hide it by publishing it on Boxing Day. He wanted no one to notice it, but now you're gonna make it look like a trend. SussexSquad retweet and sign with this # #MeghanMarkleWon 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yPQQWrLbuG
— Dominique Ravenel (@DoravmoRavenel) December 26, 2021
The internet, however, had plans of its own and has been quick to pick up on the public defeat. Within hours #MeghanMarkleWon trended across Twitter, with many celebrating the Duchess of Sussex.
One fan account tweeted: “I just find it glorious that the Daily Mail thought they could hide Meghan’s victory at the bottom of the page on their slowest sale day of the year but the #sussexsquad had other plans.”
I just find it glorious that the Daily Mail thought they could hide Meghan’s victory at the bottom of the page on their slowest sale day of the year but the #sussexsquad had other plans #MeghanMarkleWon #MeghanMarkleWonAgain pic.twitter.com/4VaiDSJEg3
— Myra (@SussexPrincess) December 26, 2021
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu wrote: “Meghan Markle on the front page of the Mail victorious over her enemies. British media gnashing their teeth in rage they did everything to crush her. Royal Family complicity is undeniable-they should’ve backed her but once again failed her #MeghanMarkleWon Her work here is done!”
👏🏽Meghan Markle on front page of the Mail victorious over her enemies.
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) December 26, 2021
British media gnashing their teeth in rage they did everything to crush her.
Royal Family complicity is undeniable-they should’ve backed her but once again failed her #MeghanMarkleWon
Her work here is done!👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/55MLiGfqa9
Fans were overjoyed by the admission of legal defeat and praised Meghan’s resilience.
The Mail on Sunday chose Boxing Day to print this notice of Duchess Meghan’s win aka MOS’ loss, hoping it will largely go unnoticed. So, let’s spread the word far & wide. No matter how hard #dailyFail tries to hide it#MeghanMarklewon pic.twitter.com/CqftTIbg1Q
— Meghanpedia (@meghanpedia) December 26, 2021
Has there been any black person who single-handedly stood up to all of British tabloids & wins? Has there being a black person to get daily fail to post about them beating the fail on the front page and 3rd page? #MeghanMarkle is incredible #MeghanMarkleWon #blackGirlMagic BOW! pic.twitter.com/RAS5rxMrvK
— Sᴜssᴇx Sǫᴜᴀᴅ Pᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛ (@sussexsquadpod1) December 26, 2021
if you see #MeghanMarkleWon then you know that the Daily Mail gave up hardcore. Meghan Markle is an example of fighting to win what's right.
— newstarcadefan (Waiting for PD to drop on 1/1) (@newstarcadefan) December 26, 2021
Breaking News: Evil did not win. Look at God he turned it all around for the Glory of the Lord. #MeghanMarklewon pic.twitter.com/3F3ZEpGINe
— Turkey1976 (@gayleLackey11) December 26, 2021
How it started - How it’s going: #MeghanMarkleWon pic.twitter.com/URH0owUzbX
— Boom (@TheDuchessBoom) December 26, 2021
Let’s not lose sight of that fact that Mail on Sunday/associated newspaper are now conceding this brutal defeat that #MeghanMarkle handed them. There is no path to winning in Supreme Court. This is them saying they have no case & are reluctantly accepting that #MeghanMarkleWon 🤣 pic.twitter.com/LJg9pxAMsO
— Sᴜssᴇx Sǫᴜᴀᴅ Pᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛ (@sussexsquadpod1) December 26, 2021
“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up” #MeghanMarkleWon pic.twitter.com/lvVInp9gn4
— THEE JaJa (@JaJaFaRah1) December 25, 2021