Meghan is Official; Now Let's Leave Her Alone

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Last week, I said I wouldn't write about Meghan Markle until it was official. I had no idea that it would become "official" so soon! This morning, Kensington Palace issued a statement on behalf of Prince Harry of Wales in which he refers to her as "girlfriend" and himself as her "boyfriend." This is an extraordinary statement--Harry even acknowledges that it is "unusual." It is clear from the statement that the last 10 days of public and media speculation have taken a toll on both of them and especially on her. In the release, which you can read in its entirety at the end of this post, Harry describes specific incidents of harassment, intrusion and racism that Meghan has endured since the story broke. He also notes that many people in her life, including her mother, ex-boyfriend and other friends and co-workers have also been negatively impacted.

For a young man who feels that the media hounded his beloved mother, Princess Diana, to death when he was just a child, this situation must be completely unbearable. That memory is likely never far from his mind. It resonates in the statement, which says, "This is not a game - it is her life and his." He indicates that he has tried to be a good sport and to maintain good relations with the press throughout his life, but he is clearly upset. It must be distressing to him to be so far away. As he states blankly, he cannot "protect her." I can only imagine the strain that this would put on any young romance. If they were physically closer together, perhaps they could huddle together for strength and comfort, but to be on two different continents must make everything more challenging.

By Genevieve via Wikimedia Commons

I hope that Meghan's experience with the media as an actress has prepared her to withstand this onslaught with grace. If we love Prince Harry, as we profess to do, we should do all we as individuals can to honor his wishes.

So, dear readers, I ask you that you refrain from consuming information about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. As fascinated as we all are, I know that it is hard to pass up the magazines and web stories and to refrain from social media commentary -- I have tried to limit myself to no more than one comment a day and even that is usually about showing respect and restraint or avoiding speculation about the romance.

Once again, I will not blog about this relationship until there is another official statement. Let's give the couple space to live their lives and explore their relationship without all of us adding our opinions.

In the meantime, please enjoy my Frequently Asked Questions about Harry's future wife, if you missed it.

P.S. The photos used on this post were all taken prior to speculation about Meghan's romance with the prince due to her role as a public person and celebrity in the entertainment business.

Here is the full text of Prince Harry's statement:

A Statement by the Communications Secretary to Prince Harry

Published 8 November 2016

Since he was young, Prince Harry has been very aware of the warmth that has been extended to him by members of the public. He feels lucky to have so many people supporting him and knows what a fortunate and privileged life he leads.

He is also aware that there is significant curiosity about his private life. He has never been comfortable with this, but he has tried to develop a thick skin about the level of media interest that comes with it. He has rarely taken formal action on the very regular publication of fictional stories that are written about him and he has worked hard to develop a professional relationship with the media, focused on his work and the issues he cares about.

But 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. 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. 

He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly.