Prince Harry's bold statement condemning the UK press for its treatment of Meghan Markle has been quietly removed from the royal family's official website, causing a stir among royal watchers.
The statement, issued in November 2016, came shortly after Prince Harry's relationship with Markle became public and was met with mixed reactions from the public and the royal family.
For years, the strongly worded message remained on royal.uk, serving as a rare instance of a royal family member speaking out against media scrutiny.
However, the link to the statement is now broken, raising questions about the reasons behind its removal and the implications for Prince Harry and the royal family.
The statement was a response to a controversial headline published by the Daily Mail, which sparked outrage for its racially charged and invasive nature towards Markle.
In the statement, Prince Harry expressed concern for Markle's safety and criticized the media for its relentless harassment and discrimination against her.
The decision to remove the statement has reignited discussions about the royal family's approach to media relations and the role of its members in addressing negative press coverage.
Prince Harry's bold move to speak out against the media at the time was seen as a departure from the traditional "never complain, never explain" stance adopted by the royal family.
In his memoir, Prince Harry revealed that the statement had caused tension within the family, particularly with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, who felt it reflected poorly on them.
This latest development adds to the ongoing narrative surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from their senior royal duties and pursue a more independent path.
As the royal family continues to navigate the complexities of modern media scrutiny, the removal of Prince Harry's statement raises questions about the future of royal communication strategies.
Representatives for Buckingham Palace have yet to comment on the removal of the statement from the royal family's website.
