The British royal family is doing a digital clean-up that’s raising eyebrows, specifically removing Prince Harry’s poignant 2016 statement. About 7 years ago, the post confirmed his romance with Meghan Markle and defended her against vicious attacks—right on their official website. The love declaration, once a bold stand against racism and sexism, now leads to a broken link.
The most shocking part? The bold way Kensington Palace’s communications secretary, Jason Knauf, issued the statement, protectively taking care of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In the post, racial undertones and sexism flooding the media were confronted and condemned. What’s more, this move was unprecedented in royal communications, given its direct take against the harassment the Dutchess of Sussex went through.
Fast forward to 2024: the narrative has had a massive switch-up. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have since then married, welcomed two children, and stepped down from the royal spotlight. Since their departure from the royal family in 2020, the royal renegades settled in the United States, hoping to leave a life away from the scrutiny and the press surrounding the monarchy.
On November 8, 2016, Prince Harry released a statement appealing to the press to reflect on their relentless attacks on his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle and their intrusion on everyone she has ever been associated with before further damage is done. pic.twitter.com/0JTufVwddM
— Hekwen Penken (@HekwenPenken) May 12, 2023
Most notably, the Duke of Sussex released a memoir titled “Spare.” In the book, he reflects on the urgency and necessity of that statement, describing it as “strong, precise, angry, and honest.” Unfortunately, the daring statement didn’t stop the harassment and caused friction with his brother, Prince William, and dad, King Charles lll.