Express.co.uk was able to confirm the URL associated with Prince Harry‘s statement no longer appeared to be working, redirecting the visitor to search results on the royal website about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex instead.
Now PR expert Mayah Riaz suggested the move by the Palace was nothing more than a “cleaning up process” as the Palace wants to “exercise greater control over the information available to the public”.
She told the Mirror: “This would be nothing more than a cleaning up process of the Royal website.
“They could have been implementing updated media strategies or shifting their public image narrative. By removing specific statements, it allows them to exercise greater control over the information available to the public and tailor their messaging accordingly.
“As Harry and Meghan are not working royals anymore, that statement is no longer relevant.”
Prince Harry‘s 2016 statement read: “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….
“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.”