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Prince Harry prepares for first public appearance since royal split

Meghan Markle made her first public appearance in a Canada women's shelter

File: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | AP

Britain's Prince Harry will make his first public appearance on Thursday since him and wife Meghan Markle announced that they seek an independent future separately from the Royal Family last week.

Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the wishes of the couple to step back from their senior royal roles and split their time between Canada and Britain. For what is scheduled to be his last scheduled engagement before beginning a transition period, the prince, sixth-in-line to the throne, will host the draws for next year's Rugby League World Cup at Buckingham Palace.

Prince Harry and Meghan's announcement came as quite a shock to the Royal household, and matters were settled after a face-to-face meeting between the Queen, Harry, his older brother William and his father Prince Charles. 

Meghan Markle's father may testify in UK newspaper legal case

Meghan Markle in the meantime could face more unwanted publicity as her father might testify in a UK newspaper legal case.

Thomas Markle may be among the witnesses brought in by a UK newspaper fighting legal action launched by the former television star for alleged breach of privacy and copyright infringement.

The case, launched by Markle's legal team in October last year, centres around the publication in the 'Mail on Sunday' of extracts of a personal letter which she sent to her father in August 2018, three months after she married Prince Harry.

Her lawyers allege misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.

As part of the official documents filed with the High Court in London on Tuesday, Associated Newspapers Ltd has defended the publication of the excerpts and includes evidence from Thomas Markle who could also be called in to testify if the case goes on to trial.

It remains to be seen if the case will go on to trial or be settled before that.

Meghan makes her first public appearance in Canada at a women's centre

Markle, who has been in Canada since last week, was pictured at her first public appearance there as she paid a visit to a women's centre in Vancouver on Tuesday.

The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre posted a photograph of a beaming 38-year-old Markle with staff and visitors on Facebook, with the caption "Look who we had tea with today".

Her visit was "to discuss issues affecting women in the community", the group said.

The shelter in an impoverished Vancouver neighbourhood each day provides counselling, hot meals, and basic needs for marginalized and vulnerable women and children.

With PTI inputs