Prince Harry’s statement defending Meghan Markle featured on the royal website from 2016, but it’s now been taken down.
Whether you’re somebody who closely follows the activities of the British Royal family or not, encountering online backlash against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is commonplace. The couple has recently been criticized for taking a visit to Nigeria in celebration of the Invictus Games anniversary, with many arguing it was made to look like an official royal visit despite the pair stepping down as senior royals in 2020. Criticism and scandalous discourse are things they’ve been familiar with ever since they took their relationship public in November 2016, the same year Harry released a statement in Meghan’s defense. That statement has now disappeared from the Royal website…
Royal website removes Prince Harry’s statement on Meghan Markle treatment
When their relationship went public, several articles in the British tabloids pedaled headlines widely considered both racist and sexist.
Appalled by Meghan’s treatment in the media, Harry’s spokesperson released a statement on behalf of the prince, which was uploaded onto the official website of the royal family. However, it has now been removed from the site without explanation, years later.
Released in November 2016, the statement served as a shining example of Harry defending Meghan from abuse even in the earliest days of their relationship.
- ‘GONE TOO FAR’: Author speaks about Meghan and Harry criticism
“The past week has seen a line crossed,” the now-deleted statement read. “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.”
Acknowledging legal battles and the struggle being fought even by Meghan’s family in the face of invaded privacy, the spokesperson said “Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.”
Expert suggests no ill intent behind the statement’s removal
This all came just a few months into their relationship. Even after the couple moved to Meghan’s native California in June 2020, the statement remained on the website until now.
That being said, a public relations expert has already assessed the situation and offered their verdict to The Mirror.
“This would be nothing more than a cleaning up process of the royal website,” they argued. “They could have been implementing updated media strategies or shifting their public image narrative. By removing specific statements, it allows them to exercise greater control over the information available to the public and tailor their messaging accordingly.”
They point out that neither party is a working royal anymore, therefore “the statement is no longer relevant.” Additionally, they contemplate the possibility it also could have been removed due to “legal considerations”.
On the whole, “It may have been determined that the statement was no longer relevant, accurate, or could potentially be used in legal battles or public disputes,” they conclude.
No matter the reason, a storm of conflicting opinions hovers over X/Twitter all the same.
The post Prince Harry's statement defending Meghan Markle 'disappears overnight' appeared first on Celebrity Tidbit.
