Last week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to sue the Daily Mail. The couple claimed the publication violated their privacy by publishing a private letter the Duchess of Sussex wrote to her father.

During a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Thomas Markle explained why he shared his daughter’s letter with the press.

“I have to defend myself. I only released parts of the letter because other parts were so painful. The letter didn’t seem loving to me. I found it hurtful,” he said

When Prince Harry announced the couple’s lawsuit, he cited Princess Diana’s death as the driving force behind his decision. “I lost my mother, and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces,” he said.

“Though this action may not be the safe one, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person.”

The Duke of Sussex revealed he was concerned the media was forcing Meghan to go down the same path as Princess Diana. “I have been a silent witness to her private suffering for too long,” he said.

Prince Harry insisted his decision was made to protect his wife. “There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behavior because it destroys people and destroys lives,” Harry stated.

“Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people. We all know this isn’t acceptable, at any level. We won’t and can’t believe in a world where there is no accountability for this.”

Meghan reportedly cut off communication with her father following her royal wedding in May 2018.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan visited a Cape Town rights group fighting gender violence. POOL / Courtney AFRICA