Prince Harry’s new girlfriend Meghan Markle ‘takes time off from filming Suits after harassment claims’
PRINCE Harry’s new girlfriend Meghan Markle is taking time off from filming hit TV show Suits following claims she is being harassed, it has been reported.
The prince broke his silence and finally admitted the TV star is his girlfriend earlier this week.
Harry, 32, spoke out to confirm he has been secretly dating actress Meghan, 35, for months.
He also said his new love interest was being harassed and in a sign of how serious it is, made an unprecedented appeal for them to be left in peace.
A statement issued by Kensington Palace said Harry believed media interest in his love affair with American divorcee Meghan had seen a “line crossed”.
Meghan is believed to be taking some time off from filming with celebrity website reporting she told bosses she had “something important to do”.
Harry’s statement said “his girlfriend has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment”.
The statement said it was “not right” she had been “subjected to such a storm”.
It also lashed out at the “sexism and racism of social media trolls” which had left him “deeply disappointed that he was not able to protect her.”
Harry’s romance with the actress was revealed ten days ago — but they had kept it secret for months.
They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson at central London’s Soho House, where he is a director, in early June.
Harry was immediately smitten and besieged the American with texts until she agreed to a date.
They met in London several times that month, with Meghan pictured in Wimbledon’s royal Box.
In July, Harry flew to LA to treat her to a weekend at his best friend’s house in the Hollywood Hills.
They were then apart for two months while Harry was in Africa.
But Meghan flew to London in early September as they could not “bear to be apart”. She was star guest at his shooting party at Balmoral that month, where she met Prince Charles and other royals.
That was followed by a trip to a Cotswold’s hotel last month.
And Harry returned from a week-long break at Meghan’s apartment in Toronto last Wednesday.
A pal said: “Despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, they have managed to meet up fairly often.
“Harry has been paranoid at the relationship getting out before either knew if they wanted to continue.
“But it has moved very fast and they can’t bear to be apart.”
This is Harry’s third serious relationship since splitting with actress Cressida Bonas, 27, two years ago.
He also dated Zimbabwean lawyer Chelsy Davy, 31, from 2004 to 2011.
And there have been flings with model Florence Brudenell-Bruce, 30, in 2011 and with Doctor Who actress Jenna Coleman, 30, last summer.
But Meghan, a Women’s Advocate for the UN, is the only girl Harry has gone so public about so soon.
Royal historian Robert Lacey said: “This statement is an interesting way of Prince Harry expressing his feelings without being soppy.
“He’s stepping up as her knight in shining armour to defend his damsel in distress. It’s very gallant and everything we’d expect from our warrior prince.
“But in a year’s time, it’ll be remembered as the day he declared his love for her. I do think it is a mistake, though, to try and engage with the sharks on social media.
“Kensington Palace are mad if they think they can defeat the sharks — they are not the professional British media.
He’s stepping up as her knight in shining armour to defend his damsel in distress
“The media are on Harry’s side and want to help him, and he does seem to be antagonising them, which I do think is a mistake.
“Even if Harry thinks this isn’t our business, it is.
“We have to get used to her if there is an engagement on the cards. Although I think it will take a very long time to get to that, in the same vein as William and Kate.
“They were given breathing space while they were both at university, and I suppose Harry wants the same for his new girlfriend. They went on for so long, it became not why, but when. Harry will want the same for Meghan.”
