Royal Family Deletes Prince Harry’s Statement That Defended Meghan Markle

The British royal family has quietly deleted Prince Harry’s groundbreaking statement from 2016 which confirmed for the first time that he was dating Meghan Markle, from its official website.

The statement, initially released by Harry’s communications secretary, condemned the “wave of abuse and harassment” experienced by Meghan after their relationship became public. What could this mean for the heated relationship between Buckingham Palace and the Sussex couple? Continuer reading to find out.

The 2016 Statement

In November 2016, a statement was issued on behalf of Prince Harry addressing the media frenzy and harassment faced by Meghan Markle. This statement marked a significant departure from the royal family’s traditional “never complain, never explain” approach. It openly criticized the press for their treatment of Meghan, highlighting the racial and sexist undertones in the coverage.

Excerpt From the 2016 Deleted Statement

“His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. Some of it has been hidden from the public — the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.

Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game.’ He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his.”

Removal of the Statement

The statement had been accessible on the royal family’s website for over seven years. However, Newsweek reported that it was no longer available as of early December 2023. The internet archive site Wayback Machine confirmed that the link to the statement was accessible on December 3, 2023, but not a week later on December 10. This indicates its removal happened within that time frame.

Why Did They Delete Prince Harry’s Statement That Defended Meghan Markle?

Prince Harry’s 2016 statement reportedly caused significant friction within the royal family. According to Harry’s memoir, Spare, both his father, now King Charles, and his brother, Prince William, were “furious” about the statement. Harry revealed that his family had advised him to remain silent about the media attention. Despite that, he felt compelled to speak out to protect Meghan. He noted that his decision to issue the statement highlighted the royal family’s lack of public defense for their own spouses. This statement strained their relationships even further.

Impact and Aftermath

Despite the removal of the statement, its significance remains. The public declaration of support for Meghan was a bold move that underscored Harry’s commitment to her. He showed his willingness to challenge the status quo within the royal family. The couple’s relationship continued to be a subject of intense media scrutiny. This led them to eventually step back from their roles as senior working royals in January 2020 and relocate to California.

In recent developments, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s individual profiles on the royal family’s website have been merged into a single, joint profile. This update signifies a continued effort by the royal family to distance itself from Harry and Meghan’s actions and statements. The removal of the 2016 statement contributes to deepening the distance even further.

The deletion of the statement marks another chapter in the ongoing saga between the Sussexes and the royal family. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan continue to forge their path outside the royal institution. The legacy of their struggle against media scrutiny and family tensions remains a poignant reminder of the challenges they faced.

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