Prince Harry has lashed out at the media intrusion and the ‘sexism and racism of social media trolls’ in a rare statement issued by Kensington Palace.
On November 8, a statement was issued by the royal’s communications team which finally acknowledged that the Prince has been dating Toronto-based Meghan Markle. The harshly-worded statement also comments on the abusive, sexist and racial undertones used by the press and across social media since rumours of their relationship first surfaced a couple weeks ago.
In the letter, the royal family specifically calls out and condemns incidents of photographers attempting to gain entry into Markle's home, bribes offered to Markle's ex-boyfriend, and "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 said. “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. He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly.”
The actress, whose father is white and mother is African American, has written about her heritage on her website, describing herself as biracial and “half black and half white”.
The Prince met the actress - who is best known for her role as Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits - at a function earlier this year when he was promoting his Invictus Games in Toronto. Toronto has become Los Angeles-born Markle’s second home and she has often gushed about living in six.
News of the royal relationship appeared in Britain's tabloid newspaper the Sunday Express on November 2, kicking off a global invasion of tabloid journalists trying to get the scoop on the the pair.
