Some girls dream of being courted by a prince and living a fairy tale life. They’re fortunate, though, that those fantasies rarely come true — because they never think about the very real and personal costs of such relationships.
If dating a mere celebrity comes with its aggravations and PR troubles — consider every man who has had Taylor Swift on his arm — imagine the virtually unbearable stress of dating an heir to the British throne.
“This is not a game — it is her life and his.”
The few women who do date, and even marry, royals become instant quarry for bloodthirsty photographers who believe a bullying horde of cameras is a fair price for fame. Just ask Kate Middleton, who was unknowingly photographed topless while sunbathing during a private vacation. And her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, whose every movement was scrutinized by the press, would list even greater media offenses — were she able.
Prince Harry’s new girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, is the latest victim of a feeding-frenzied mob stalking royals for photos.
Tabloids publishing pictures of Markle have stooped so low as to make derogatory comments simply because she is biracial — her mother is black and her father is white. A Daily Mail columnist condescendingly wrote, for example, “Genetically, [Markle] is blessed. If there is issue from her alleged union with Prince Harry, the Windsors will thicken their watery, thin blue blood and Spencer pale skin and ginger hair with some rich and exotic DNA.”
The Daily Mail also boldly asked, “Dreaming of a white wedding are we, Meghan?” and “Is Meghan the minx really Prince Harry’s Miss Right?” The Sun was brazen enough to publish a revealing photo of Markle with the line, “Prince’s royal thighness.”
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Various tabloids have also reported that Markle appears on a pornographic website. Click-bait headlines such as “Harry’s Girl on Pornhub” unfairly accused her — “conveniently” omitting that she is seen on the site in only tasteful clips of love scenes from her USA Network show “Suits.”
It’s no mystery why Harry went ballistic a few days ago.
Many believe the paparazzi have his mother Diana’s blood on their hands. For him to witness yet another loved one suffer the media’s abuse must be intolerable. Especially since, it seems, he and Markle are quite serious, even after only a few months of dating; she has already been introduced to Prince Charles.
Jason Knauf, the prince’s communication secretary, detailed how “the past week has seen a line crossed” in a rare official statement regarding the media. He said Markle has been subject to a “wave of abuse and harassment,” including “the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of the comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and Web article comments.”
It’s not just the royals’ significant others who suffer, either. Knauf added that Markle’s loved ones have been badgered as well.
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He wrote that there had been “nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers” and of “[Markle’s] 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 calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; [and] the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.”
Markle, 35, was born and raised in California but is currently living in Toronto while filming “Suits.” She and Prince Harry, 32, met when he visited the Canadian city during the Invictus Games earlier this year. And Harry, who is all too familiar with photographers’ unjust behavior and stories, will continue to seek protection for Markle and himself. Acknowledging this, Knauf added, “This is not a game — it is her life and his.”
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