Prince Harry yesterday confirmed that he is in a serious relationship with American actress Meghan Markle – and made an emotional appeal for them to be left in peace.
The prince instructed Kensington Palace to issue a statement which described Markle, the 35-year-old star of US legal drama Suits, as his “girlfriend”.
It comes after a week of intense speculation about his private life. Kensington Palace’s lengthy statement said Harry, 32, believed media interest in his love affair with the divorcee had “crossed the line”.
Markle has been “subject to a wave of abuse and harassment” including a torrent of racist  and sexist slurs by “social media trolls,” it adds.
The fact that the prince ordered such a strongly worded statement to be issued suggests he sees Markle as a long-term partner. He has said in TV interviews that he wants to settle down and have children.
The statement, issued by Harry’s communications secretary Jason Knauf, said: “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.”
It continues: “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.”
His statement – one of the most powerfully worded public defences of privacy issued for any of his girlfriends – adds: “Prince Harry is worried about 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 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.”
The palace said Harry personally “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.”
He has only had two relationships of serious note – with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas. Both relationships ended after high levels of media interest.