Meghan's lawyer insists she 'wanted to protect' her estranged father

Meghan Markle's lawyer has insisted that the royal "sought to protect" her estranged father, Thomas Markle Snr., slamming tabloid rumours about the duchess.

When Prince Harry announced that he and Meghan were filing lawsuits against several major British tabloids, royal fans were left shocked by the unprecedented move.

Now the duchess' lawyer has spoken in court, refuting several of the tabloid rumours about the duchess that lead the couple to file the lawsuit.

In court documents obtained by Byline Investigates and reported on by Elle, Meghan's lawyer went on the record saying that the royal has a long history of "looking after her father" and shed light on their relationship.

"The true position is that the Claimant [Meghan] has a long history of looking after her father's welfare and trying to find solutions to any health problems," the documents quote Meghan's lawyer as saying.

"She did provide extensive financial support for him, as well as act as primary caregiver for her grandmother."

Since Harry and Meghan's royal wedding in 2018, the duchess has faced constant backlash from critics and family members alike over her estrangement from her father.

Half-sister Samantha Markle regularly leads the charge, previously branding the royal a "hypocrite" and "cruel" for not financially supporting Thomas Markle Snr, a rumour Meghan's lawyer refuted.

LISTEN: Tune in to 9Honey's royal podcast, The Windsors, to learn more about Meghan's relationship with the Markle family.

The lawyer also addressed Thomas' absence at Meghan's wedding, allegedly for health reasons, that saw Prince Charles walk the duchess down the aisle instead.

"Her father did not telephone her to explain that he was not coming to her wedding… she had reached out to him prior to the wedding and sought to protect him, as well as to ensure that he would be able to come to the wedding," court documents read.

Thomas was also caught staging paparazzi photos shortly before the duchess' nuptials, a plan allegedly hatched with Samantha's help.

But the rumours surrounding Meghan's relationship with her father weren't the only ones addressed, the lawyer also commenting on several other claims made in British tabloids.

Claims that Meghan added a yoga studio, tennis court and guest wing to Frogmore Cottage during renovations were denounced as falsehoods designed to make it look like the duchess was living an "absurdly lavish life.

Lawyers also criticised a headline that read "How Meghan's favourite avocado snack—beloved of all millennials—is fuelling human rights abuses, drought, and murder", slamming it as being "as absurd as it is offensive."

This is only the beginning of what will likely be a long legal process for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and royal fans can likely expect more rumours to be debunked in the coming months.