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Meghan Markle gets open letter of support from all-female lawyers' group

"The racial discrimination and defamation of character that you have experienced in the national press...has to stop."

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle Source: AAP

Meghan Markle has received an open letter of support from African Women Lawyers Association — a London-based group of female lawyers of African and Caribbean descent.

The letter offers solidarity to the Duchess of Sussex after a personal letter to her estranged father was obtained and published without her consent in October.

A legal battle is currently underway between Markle and Mail on Sunday.

“We feel that you are owed an apology and better treatment by the media for your charitable endeavours and royal duties performed with elegance and represents women of African descent on a world stage,” the statement said.

In a 2015 essay for Elle magazine, Markle described her biracial heritage, saying her father is Caucasian her mother is African-American. 

The African Women Lawyers Association states it’s a “source of pride” to have Markle “seen as a mentor and the epitome of possibilities that can be achieved by the woman of African descent”. 

"The racial discrimination and defamation of character that you have experienced in the national press and on social media by members of the press and the general public has to stop," the letter continues. 

“We urge the national media on your behalf to start portraying your story in a way that edifies and continues to shine a torch of aspiration to every woman through your exemplary achievements.”

In October, English female MPs wrote a letter in support of the Duchess, critiquing media coverage of her as reaffirming outdated colonial stereotypes.

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By SBS staff writers
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