These brothers have each other’s backs. Prince William issued a statement on Saturday, November 26, denying reports that he disapproved of Prince Harry’s statement about girlfriend Meghan Markle earlier this month.
“The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him,” a spokesperson for Kensington Palace told Us. (It was reported elsewhere Saturday that William, 34, was displeased that his younger brother had gone public with his relationship.)
Adds a palace aide: “A statement like this would not have been released with the duke first being consulted.”
The brothers share the same media advisers, meaning that they are consulted on anything that might affect them both.
On November 8, the 32-year-old red-headed royal made the unconventional decision to speak out against bullies who were harassing the Suits actress, 35, online and reporters who were making scurrilous claims about Markle and her family.
“The past week has seen a line crossed,” read a Kensington Palace statement that Harry had asked to be issued. “His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. … 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.”
A source told Us that Harry ultimately decided to speak out because of the “level of harassment and scale of character assassination” that Markle had to endure since news of their relationship first broke in late October.
“With the racial undertones and the harassment against her family, Harry felt it was not acceptable for him to say nothing,” the source added. “This isn’t about speculation about their relationship. … This is not all media.”
William himself has chosen to forgo public statements about his own love life; the one exception was before he began dating future wife Kate Middleton, when he issued a statement denying that he was in a relationship with his friend Jecca Craig.
