Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, finds herself tangled in yet another family feud that could tarnish her carefully crafted Golden State glow, according to Fox News.
At the heart of this drama is a lingering legal battle with her estranged half-sister, Samantha Markle, over alleged defamatory remarks made during a blockbuster 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, alongside Meghan's ongoing efforts to redefine herself as a lifestyle mogul in California.
Let’s rewind to 2020, when Meghan and Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, stepped back from their roles as senior royals, citing relentless British press scrutiny and a lack of support from the palace.
Settling in Montecito, California, with their two young children, the couple aimed for a fresh start, far from the royal spotlight.
Meghan, now 44, has since been busy building a business empire, launching her lifestyle brand, As Ever, earlier in 2025, and debuting the second season of her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," on August 26, 2025.
A holiday special for the series is also in the works, signaling her intent to cement herself as a household name in the lifestyle space—yet family drama keeps knocking at the door.
Enter Samantha Markle, 60, Meghan’s half-sister, who filed a defamation lawsuit in 2022, pointing to statements from that 2021 Oprah interview, watched by nearly 50 million globally, where Meghan claimed she "grew up as an only child."
Samantha, arguing they were close in childhood before drifting apart when Meghan began dating Harry, also took issue with the implications that she reverted to the Markle surname for clout after the royal romance began.
Meghan’s camp has stayed mum—Archewell, her office, declined to comment—but she’s previously accused Samantha and their father, Thomas Markle, of peddling stories to British tabloids, adding fuel to this messy fire.
In 2023, District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell tossed the case, ruling Meghan’s "only child" remark was a protected opinion, not a verifiable fact ripe for legal challenge.
Undeterred, Samantha appealed the dismissal—with prejudice, meaning no refiling of the same claims—and an oral argument is set for September 9, 2025, before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Jacksonville, Florida.
Samantha’s lawyer, Peter Ticktin, told Fox News Digital, "There is a good chance that the court will reverse the trial judge," suggesting this saga is far from over, as judges weigh if alleged falsehoods meet Florida’s defamation threshold.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich didn’t mince words, stating to Fox News Digital, "Meghan Markle has done her utmost to rebrand herself as some sort of California royalty," but warned this legal spat "will thwart those efforts."
Let’s be real—while Meghan’s push for a polished, progressive image is ambitious, these constant public squabbles with family paint a picture of discord that undermines the wholesome brand she’s selling. It’s hard to pitch harmony when your own kin are airing grievances in court.
Yet, as royal expert Ian Pelham Turner noted to Fox News Digital, "She is immensely strong and determined," expressing hope she can weather these storms while juggling family life with Harry and their kids—though shaking off this baggage won’t be easy in the court of public opinion.