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After recent speculation that Prince Harry is dating Suits star Meghan Markle, the Royal has confirmed their relationship by taking the unusual step of addressing the media attention on them.
The British Royal family generally take the public spotlight on them in their stride, but it seems some media have gone too far, prompting Harry to reveal his concerns for Meghan’s safety and calling on the press to back off the Toronto-based actress.
In an official statement issued on his behalf, the fifth-in-line to the British throne said recent action by British tabloids have “seen a line crossed”.
“His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment,” the statement said. “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 continued. “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.”
The 32-year-old completed the statement with a plea to the media in general and especially outlets that have been intensely pursuing Meghan to relent.
“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 prince is understandably concerned about paparazzi and reporters pursuing Meghan after his mother, Diana Princess of Wales was killed in 1997 when the car she was travelling in, being chased by photographers, crashed in a tunnel in Paris.
Last year the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge issued a statement slamming the “harassment” and “increasingly dangerous” methods paparazzi were using to take photos of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, calling for the young royals to have a childhood “free from harassment and surveillance”.
While the Royals for the most part accept media and public attention good naturedly, it seems the speeding up of the internet news cycle and therefore increased hounding by some publications means a new set boundaries needs to be put in place.
