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The Duchess of Sussex has claimed that the newspaper crossed "clear ethical boundaries" by reporting from the bedside of her father, from whom she is estranged, after his assertions that he had not received his daughter's messages.

A Public Appeal and a Private Struggle

Meghan's father appealed to Meghan to see him in a weekend interview, following having serious surgery abroad.

Nonetheless, a spokesperson for Meghan said that she had been trying to contact her father and criticised the publication's conduct.

"Given that a Daily Mail reporter has stayed at her father’s bedside the entire time, broadcasting each interaction and breaching obvious ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the royal to contact her father in private, notwithstanding her attempts over the past few days," the representative said. "Thanks to trusted associates, her message is now securely in his hands."

Outlet's Denial

A spokesperson for the parent company of the newspapers rejected unethical behaviour and said that Mr. Markle was a friend of the journalist who spoke with him.

"When Thomas Markle was fell ill in the Philippines he reached out to Caroline Graham and asked her travel to be with him," stated the spokesman. "Not only is she a journalist, Caroline Graham has been a friend to Mr Markle for years. She has been with Mr Markle in hospital every day, providing him with care and support."

The spokesperson added, "It is entirely untrue that each exchange has been publicized, and the suggestion that journalistic ethics were breached is demonstrably false and strongly contested."

Background of Estrangement

The row follows a period of difficulty in which Meghan is understood to have been attempting to reach her father. Her team claim they had faced challenges to find him or find a way to reach him directly.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since her wedding, when she married Prince Harry. The father-daughter bond soured further when a personal letter she wrote to him, parts of which were published in the Sunday paper, an act she said "actually signalled the end of our relationship, not a reconciliation."

Upcoming Legal Battle

This disagreement precedes by weeks the Duke of Sussex is due to begin a lawsuit against the owner of the Daily Mail over allegations of illegal data collection.

In that trial, set for next month, the publisher is being sued by Prince Harry and a group of high-profile individuals. The claimants contend the newspaper group engaged in illegal practices. The publisher strongly disputes all allegations.