NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Meghan Markle: Who are the five 'close friends' who may have to defend her in court?

news.com.au
2 Jul, 2020 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Meghan Duchess of Sussex has named the friends, although they are only referred to as A, B, C, D and E in the papers, and they could now be called to testify at a trial.

Meghan Duchess of Sussex has named the friends, although they are only referred to as A, B, C, D and E in the papers, and they could now be called to testify at a trial.

An inner circle of Meghan Markle's closest confidantes could be called on to testify at a trial that's already seen bombshell claims from the former royal.

Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers Limited (who own The Daily Mail) and in bombshell court documents said she was unable to defend herself, leaving her closest friends "rightly concerned for her welfare when pregnant".

The 38-year-old claims she felt "tremendous emotional distress" by media coverage, while her friends felt "silenced" by Kensington Palace and unable to defend her.

Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle were very close but appear to have fallen out over a racism scandal. Photo / Wireimage
Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle were very close but appear to have fallen out over a racism scandal. Photo / Wireimage

Meghan is suing ANL for publishing a personal letter she wrote to her estranged father, although the media group claims Mr Markle made it public after five of her friends gave an interview about it to People magazine.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Duchess today named the friends, although they are only referred to as A, B, C, D and E in the papers, and they could now be called to testify at a trial.

People magazine previously described them as "Meghan's inner circle – a longtime friend, a former co-star, a friend from LA, a one-time colleague and a close confidante".

Meghan has denied authorising her friends to speak out to defend her in the magazine article.

So just who could A, B, C, D and E be?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

'A LONGTIME FRIEND'

This secretive friend is thought to be Lindsay Jill Roth – Meghan's best friend from university.

View this post on Instagram

One year ago - can't believe how time flies! #rehearsaldinner #wedding #brideandgroom #nyc #mylove @trattoria_nyc @gavinajordan

A post shared by Lindsay Roth (@lindsayjillroth) on Aug 5, 2017 at 4:09pm PDT

Despite their long-distance relationship, they've continued to share a close bond, with Lindsay telling People back in March 2017: "We're the kind of friends who can be 3000 miles away and still be talking about or thinking the same thing, and even texting each other the same thing at the same time miles away."

'A FORMER CO-STAR'

Discover more

Royals

Meghan 'embarrassed' Harry when revealing she was pregnant

29 Jun 07:21 PM
Royals

Comment: Real reason Meghan and Harry quit

30 Jun 08:05 AM
Royals

Why Kate warned Harry not to 'rush into' marrying Meghan

30 Jun 08:53 PM
Royals

Meghan names friends who spoke to magazine

01 Jul 06:50 PM

Suits actress Abigail Spencer – who attended Harry and Meghan's wedding – may be the "former co-star" quoted in the piece, rubbishing the claims the Duchess is anything but genuine.

Abigail Spencer may be the "former co-star" quoted in the piece. Photo / Getty
Abigail Spencer may be the "former co-star" quoted in the piece. Photo / Getty

"When you see her at walkabouts, when she crouches down to talk to the kids and genuinely has real conversations with people, that's Meg," the co-star said.

'A FRIEND FROM LA'

It's thought this mysterious friend is one of Meghan's close-knit former LA set, pilates instructor Heather Dorak.

The pair have been super close since the former Suits star began taking her classes, with Heather flying over to the UK for her wedding to Harry in May last year.

'A ONE-TIME COLLEAGUE'

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Some suggested this is another Suits star – actress Sarah Rafferty, who plays Donna Paulsen on the legal drama.

Sarah Rafferty played Donna Paulsen on Suits while Meghan Markle was Rachel Zane.
Sarah Rafferty played Donna Paulsen on Suits while Meghan Markle was Rachel Zane.

"We talk daily. And the first thing out of her mouth is, 'How are the kids? How are you?' I'm not even allowed to ask about her until she finds out about me," the anonymous source states.

'A CLOSE CONFIDANTE'

It's believed this is Meghan's long-running friend and unofficial stylist Jessica Mulroney who met Meghan over a decade ago when Meghan first moved to Canada.

The mum-of-one has enjoyed luxury holidays with her royal mate before she met Harry, with reports saying they enjoy working on charitable events together too.

They're so close, Jessica was even meant to join Meghan on her first royal tour which brought her to Australia and New Zealand. However Meghan appears to have distanced herself after a racism scandal over Jessica's threats to influencer Sasha Exeter.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The explosive court papers also reveal:

• Meghan claims her 2018 royal wedding that cost $57 million at Windsor brought in $1.8 billion in tourism cash.

• Wrote an infamous letter to her dad Thomas to stop him being "manipulated", instead of to reconcile.

• Asked why she couldn't take paid work when Princess Beatrice and Eugenie do.

• Meghan spent her own money on flights for her father to and from London and his hotel for her wedding.

In the documents, Meghan also said that she felt "unprotected" by the "institution" of the royal family and was unable to defend herself against false claims that where made about her.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

New Zealand

Crusading broadcaster unmasks alleged driver in car incident

11 May 07:12 PM
Lifestyle

Which NZ winery came out on top in 2025's best of the year awards?

11 May 05:00 PM
Lifestyle

'You're the best': Jacinda Ardern, NZ leaders celebrate Mother's Day with tributes

11 May 08:09 AM

Sponsored: Top tier tiles - faux or refresh

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Crusading broadcaster unmasks alleged driver in car incident

Crusading broadcaster unmasks alleged driver in car incident

11 May 07:12 PM

She used her skills as a broadcaster to search for a resolution to the incident.

Which NZ winery came out on top in 2025's best of the year awards?

Which NZ winery came out on top in 2025's best of the year awards?

11 May 05:00 PM
'You're the best': Jacinda Ardern, NZ leaders celebrate Mother's Day with tributes

'You're the best': Jacinda Ardern, NZ leaders celebrate Mother's Day with tributes

11 May 08:09 AM
Premium
The complex emotions surrounding Mother's Day for many Kiwis

The complex emotions surrounding Mother's Day for many Kiwis

11 May 03:19 AM
Sponsored: How much is too much?
sponsored

Sponsored: How much is too much?

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP