Meghan Markle has received an open letter of support from a London-based body of female lawyers of African and Caribbean descent.
The African Women Lawyers' Association (AWLA) aims to help women from African and Caribbean descent, who work in the legal field in the UK, to overcome structural obstacles to reach their potential and senior positions.
Last week, the body published an open letter on their website offering their 'solidarity' to the Duchess of Sussex, during her ongoing legal battle with the media and one newspaper in particular.
'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.
The organisation said it is a 'source of pride' to have a black woman accepted and married into the royal family and 'seen as a mentor and the epitome of possibilities that can be achieved by the woman of African descent'.
The body called for the 'racial discrimination and defamation' of Markle's character, allegedly committed by the press and on social media, to stop.
'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,' the letter, signed by the CEO Margaret Mwila Nunkwe Buter and Founder, Caroline Newman, said.
Markle and Prince Harry's legal action against the Mail on Sunday newspaper - concerning private letters that the Duchess wrote to her estranged father - was confirmed during their royal tour of Africa in October.
The mother of one - who is currently taking some time off from royal duties with her husband and son - spoke candidly about the toll that the media scrutiny has taken, in an ITV documentary earlier this Autumn.
'Not many people will have asked if I'm OK... But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes,' a visibly emotional Markle told broadcaster Tom Bradby.
The Duchess has also been supported by a cross-party group of female MPs, who criticised some sections of the media for 'casting aspersions about your [Markle's] character without any good reason.
Hours later, Markle personally called a Labour MP who organised the letter to thank her.
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Olivia Blair is Entertainment Editor (Luxury) at Hearst UK, working across ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Michaela Coel and Ryan Gosling over the years.
