Prince Harry has been left with a “very upsetting shock” as the Royal Family quietly deletes his strongly-worded defense of his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle from the royal website.

The statement, issued by the Duke of Sussex in November 2016, was a scathing attack on the press, condemning “racial undertones” and harassment directed towards Meghan by the media. However, after seven years, the statement has been removed from royal.co.uk, eliciting surprise and disappointment from Harry.

Royal author Tom Quinn, speaking exclusively to The Mirror, describes the removal as a significant blow for Harry, who sees it as the Royal Family shutting him down and erasing a crucial part of his longstanding anti-media campaign.

Quinn suggests that Harry would have wanted the statement to remain on the website as a permanent reminder of Meghan and Harry’s status as victims, rather than aggressors, in the media landscape.

The statement was originally released by former Kensington Palace communications secretary Jason Knauf, shortly after Harry’s relationship with Meghan became public. It addressed the harassment and abuse Meghan faced from the press, highlighting instances of racial undertones, sexism, and intrusion into her privacy.

The removal of the statement comes amidst ongoing legal battles and tensions between Prince Harry and the UK government over his security detail. Despite his appeal being greenlit by the High Court, Harry reportedly feels incredulous that he is not automatically entitled to state security, given his status as a prominent member of the royal family.

As Prince Harry continues to navigate the complexities of public life and media scrutiny, the deletion of his statement serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges he and Meghan have faced, both within the royal family and in the public eye.