Meghan Markle could be hauled into court as half-sister Samatha Markle’s continues her efforts to bring about a defamation trail.

Samantha, 58, claims that Meghan defamed her during her and Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 – as well as in their Netflix docuseries last year.

Samantha, who is Thomas Markle’s eldest daughter, appeared in court to secure her defamation trail earlier this week.

At the hearing, which took place on November 8 at the Federal Court in Florida, saw Samantha – who is seeking damages in excess of £61,000 ($75,000) – telling reporters that she was “optimistic” that the trial would be a success.

Samantha also claimed that Meghan’s comments caused her to lose sales of her book, The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister.

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The trial is set to take place in 2024 but, if this isn’t the case, Meghan will have until January 2 to undergo “discovery”.

Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018, would then be forced to unearth private text messages, emails, and other documents.

The defamation case against the former royal first came about in March 2022, one year after the couple’s interview with Oprah aired.

As well as the interview and the docuseries, Samatha accused Meghan – who has been estranged from the Markle family for some time – of providing information to the unauthorised biography Finding Freedom in 2020.

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Speaking of Meghan and Harry’s docuseries, Samatha accused the couple of spreading “malicious, hurtful and damaging lies”.

The 58-year-old says that Meghan implied that Samantha wasn’t around and that she was an “only child”.

Samantha alleges that the former actress made comments to portray her as a “liar and fame seeker” and was looking to “demonise” her.

As well as Meghan herself, Samantha claimed that fans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also launched a “hate-filled smear campaigns” against her.

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Despite previously claiming to have been a large part of Meghan’s life when she was a child, Samantha rebukes any claim that she “raised” her.

Speaking to The US Sun, Samantha said: “Saying we were integral in her life until 12 and were normal brothers and sisters is very different from saying we raised her.”

As well as affecting her book sales, Samatha has previously claimed that Meghan’s comments caused her social and professional harm.

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