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A statement that Prince Harry made confirming his relationship with (now wife) Meghan Markle in 2016 has officially been deleted from the royal family's website. According to Page Six, the statement in question served to "criticize the UK press" for their harsh treatment of Markle, and publicly confirm the pair's blossoming relationship all in one swoop.
The website features profiles, press releases, and official announcements from the monarchy, but, as of May 28, 2024, is missing the link to the statement detailed above. Newsweek estimated that the statement was quietly taken down sometime between December 3, and December 10, 2023, following an unsuccessful attempt to access the file on December 10th.
Prince Harry unveiled his memoir, Spare, in January 2023 which highlighted how family members reacted when he released the statement back in 2016. In the book, the Duke of Sussex revealed that his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, were "furious" because "it made them look bad for not defending their own wives in the same way."
The statement, released by Kensington Palace and attributed to "the Communications Secretary to Prince Harry" (per Newsweek), 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 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."
It has yet to be revealed why the statement was taken down from the royal family's website, but it was noted that Harry and Meghan's separate profiles (both exceeding 1,000 words) were "compressed down" to a singular 577-word joint biography in early 2024.