For the past six years, Meghan Markle has starred on the USA Network series Suits.
It’s an ideal job for someone hiding out from the mob, but if you’re trying to make a name for yourself as an actress, it’s a less than perfect situation.
So when the world learned that Markle is dating Prince Harry, the relationship immediately raised suspicions.
Many felt that the actress was more interested in boosting her public profile than in pursuing a royal romance with the Ginger Prince.
Predictably, many social media users and online commenters were unnecessarily harsh in their assessment of the situation, because 2016 is the Year of the Troll according to the Chinese calendar.
Harry issued a statement on the abuse that was heaped on Markle that can be roughly paraphrased as, “I ain’t having that sh-t. Step the f-ck off, knaves.”
“The past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment,” the statement issued by Harry actually read.
“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.”
Harry (or whoever wrote the open letter on Harry’s behalf) maintained a formal tone throughout, but it was still a side of the royal family that we rarely see.
These are people who embody the phrase “stiff upper lip,” but it was clear in his statement that Harry was pissed.
Cordially pissed, but pissed nonetheless.
The statement sparked a rumor that Prince William was upset with his brother for letting his guard down and showing the troll community that they’d gotten to him.
Now, however, a source close to the family is stating what should have been obvious from the start:
The royals are not Donald Trump’s Twitter account.
All public statements that the family signs off on are carefully considered and approved by all interested parties.
In short, Will read his brother’s address to the public and gave it the royal thumbs-up.
“They don’t issue statements like that without talking to each other, and they talked about the Meghan Markle statement extensively in advance of it being put out,” the insider tells People.
“The Duke was as alarmed as anyone about what was happening with Meghan. No one wanted to have to put that statement out, including Prince Harry, and there was concern about confirming the relationship.
“But over the course of one weekend things escalated to the extent that Prince Harry felt he had to act.”
Asked if he’s had a chance to binge-watch Suits, William replied that he doesn’t get Starz at Kensington Palace.
Told that the show is actually on basic cable, he threw a smoke bomb and promptly disappeared.
True story.