In a statement posted by Kensington Palace to social media, Prince Harry is decrying the “sexist and racist” abuse aimed at his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, a biracial American actress on the show Suits.
This is the first official confirmation of their relationship, which became a popular topic among celebrity gossip sites last week. The statement harshly criticizes the public reaction to their relationship, saying that “the past week has seen a line crossed” with abusive comments from internet trolls, and people trying to invade the couple’s privacy.
“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 that followed.”
Kensington Palace has issued a statement this morning about the harassment currently being experienced by Meghan Markle and her family. pic.twitter.com/EuFZ4fmUIj
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) November 8, 2016
The palace’s message is unusually forthright compared to typical public statements from the royal family, emphasizing the emotional hardship caused by invasive press coverage of the Prince’s private life.