Harry and Meghan voiced frustration with William’s office in episode six.
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Meghan Markle sued the Mail on Sunday’s parent company, Associated Newspapers, for publishing a letter she wrote her father, Thomas Markle, ahead of her wedding.
Meghan won the initial case, but the Associated Press appealed. During the appeal, Jason Knauf — the communications director William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan shared — voluntarily provided a witness statement that included a text message Meghan sent him regarding a draft of the letter.
In the message, Meghan wrote that she knew there was a possibility the texts could be leaked and asked for Knauf’s input, which the Associated Press’ legal team tried to use as evidence Meghan expected the letter to become public.
In episode six of “Harry & Meghan,” the Sussexes’ lawyer, Jenny Afia, said, “Sadly, there’s just no way he could have done that without the authority of his bosses,” implying Knauf had William’s permission to go to the court.
Harry, Meghan, and one of their friends also discussed Knauf’s witness statement in a scene of the episode.
“He works for his brother,” their friend Mandana Dayani said, voicing frustration that tabloids presented Knauf as Harry and Meghan’s former aide instead of William and Kate’s employee.
“But that — I know. Like, that,” Meghan said, throwing her hands up. “It’s your brother. I’m not gonna say anything about your brother, but it’s so obvious.”
“It’s even more obvious that they’ll try to cover that up,” Harry agreed. “Again, ‘Jason, the former aide of Meghan and Harry,’ as opposed to …”
“That’s what I keep saying! Why are we talking about him as her former aide and not as the person who works for your brother?” Dayani replied.
“That’s why I’m now living in a different country,” Harry responded. “Because all the comms teams basically, like, try to outdo each other, but this is the contract. The symbiotic relationship between the two institutions working the best that they can.”
Meghan ultimately won the appeal in December 2021.
The episode included a statement from Knauf’s lawyer regarding his witness statement being voluntary: “These claims are entirely false. Mr. Knauf was asked to provide evidence by both the Duchess of Sussex and Associate Newspapers. He was advised by counsel that evidence in his possession could be relevant and he then provided this directly to the court, staying neutral in the process.”
Another screen card included a statement from Meghan’s lawyer on the matter: “The legal team for Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, disputes this claim. Mr. Knauf was not asked to provide a witness statement by the duchess or her team,” the statement read. “Nor do her attorneys believe Mr. Knauf remained ‘neutral’ by submitting a witness statement relied on by Associated Newspapers whilst working for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.”
Representatives for Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
