In a curious turn of events, the royal family has deleted a statement made over seven years ago by Prince Harry's former Communications Secretary.
The timing of this deletion is notably odd. According to Sky News, the royal family removed a statement in which Prince Harry defended his then-girlfriend, Meghan Markle, from a wave of abuse and harassment by the press and internet trolls. This statement, issued by Jason Knauf, the former Kensington Palace Communications Secretary, was released just days after Harry publicly acknowledged his relationship with Markle.
The statement, dated November 8, 2016, no longer has a working link. Archived data indicates that the announcement was deleted between December 3 and December 10, 2023.
In his memoir "Spare," Harry claimed that the statement angered King Charles and Prince William, who were concerned they had not defended their wives in a similar manner. The statement asserted that a line had been crossed, with Markle becoming the victim of significant abuse and harassment. It did not, however, name specific trolls, instead claiming victimhood from unnamed antagonists. Some details have been hidden from the public.
The now-deleted statement was issued after the Daily Mail published an article titled "Harry's Girl Is (Almost) Straight Outta Compton," which detailed the rough neighborhood where Markle's mother lived. The statement also mentioned that Harry was concerned about Markle's safety and deeply disappointed that he could not prevent the media coverage of his girlfriend, echoing his ongoing concerns about safety and privacy.
The removal of the statement has allegedly angered Harry, who now wishes to address the issue with King Charles. Harry and Meghan are also reportedly unhappy with Meghan's biography and the pictures chosen for the royal website. Additionally, the royal website includes a link to Harry and Meghan's personal site, giving them free publicity. According to a well-placed source, Harry wants to discuss this removal with the King.
Legal experts suggest that the removal was likely intended to avoid entanglement in Harry's ongoing legal cases against the British media. While this rationale makes sense to many, it does not sit well with Harry and Meghan. Discontent appears ever-present in the world of Harry and Meghan, and it is hard to recall a time when they seemed truly happy. They often seem ready for a fight, especially now with ongoing tensions between Harry and King Charles III.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are notably upset with their portrayal in the British media, particularly Harry, who continues to pursue legal battles against the media. However, he cannot rely on support from influential figures like News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch for events that happened years ago. One might think Harry would prefer to move on by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Harry recently took a subtle swipe at King Charles, explaining why they wouldn't meet during his recent UK visit. According to royal commentator Esther Krakue, Harry's spokesperson cited the King's full schedule during his brief London trip for the Invictus Games anniversary. Speaking on Sky News Australia's Royal Report, Krakue claimed that the King offered Harry a stay at a rural residence with some security, which Harry refused, preferring hotels for better anonymity and protection. Krakue suggested that this was to make a point about his ongoing battle for armed security, which has been consistently denied by UK authorities. Harry's reliance on private security remains a significant issue for him.
