The Royal Family has recently faced scrutiny over the removal of a statement made by Prince Harry in 2016, which defended Meghan Markle against negative media coverage. Despite the controversy, experts suggest this action may simply be an administrative task.
In November 2016, the Duke of Sussex issued a public statement condemning certain media outlets for their “racial undertones” in commentaries about Meghan Markle. This statement had been available on the Royal Family’s official website for seven years before its recent removal.
PR expert Mayah Riaz offered insights into the situation, indicating that the decision to remove the statement might not have been malicious. Speaking to The Mirror, Riaz explained, “This would be nothing more than a cleaning up process of the Royal website. 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.”
Riaz further noted that, “As Harry and Meghan are not working royals anymore, that statement is no longer relevant. We don’t know for sure, but it is possible that the removal of the statement could have been related to legal considerations. It may have been determined that the statement was no longer relevant, accurate, or could potentially be used in legal battles or public disputes.”
The statement in question was initially issued following an article in The Mail on Sunday, which contained comments about Meghan Markle and her background that Prince Harry found objectionable. The statement highlighted the Duke’s concerns over the treatment of Meghan, including public smear campaigns, racial undertones in media coverage, and invasion of privacy.
Prince Harry’s original statement read: “The past week has seen a line crossed. 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.”
It continued, “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 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.”
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer working members of the Royal Family, the removal of the statement appears to be part of a broader effort to update and streamline the Royal website’s content.
