Royal family deletes Prince Harry’s 2016 statement about Meghan Markle

King Charles laughed during a play about family betrayal as a key detail about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was deleted from the royal website.

King Charles was spotted “giggling” at a play about family betrayal at the elite Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Charles, 75, accompanied by Queen Camilla, watched intently from the audience at RADA, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary after the King was announced as Royal Patron - following in the steps of his late mother.

King Charles III (with Queen Camilla) could be seen “giggling” during a play about family betrayal. Picture: AFP

The King and Queen spoke with students before watching a scene from the House of Ife about family clashes of culture and generation.

The King looked riveted as he watched from the stalls of the London Gielgud Theatre.

It is understood the royal couple personally chose the play, which is one of three being staged by the academy.

RADA president, David Harewood said His Majesty “really seemed to enjoy” the play, adding: “I saw him giggle at one point.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla react as they watch an extract of a play performed by third year acting students in the Gielgud theatre, during a visit to RADA in London. Picture: AFP

It comes as the royal family quietly deleted Prince Harry’s statement from 2016 that confirmed his relationship with Meghan Markle for the first time.

In November 2016, Prince Harry’s communications secretary released an unprecedented statement condemning the “wave of abuse and harassment” experienced by his then-girlfriend after news of their romance became public.

The statement remained on the royal family’s official website for seven years, but the link stopped being accessible last December, according to Newsweek.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace following the announcement of their engagement. Picture: AFP

Released by former Kensington Palace communications secretary Jason Knauf, the statement hit out at the British press after the romance between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was made public.

“His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment,” the statement 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.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before their 2018 wedding. Picture: Getty Images

The statement continued: “Some of it has been hidden from the public — the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her 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 the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.”

Prince William did not want his brother to make the statement, Prince Harry later revealed in his memoir. Picture: AFP

“Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,” the Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson also said.

“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.”

Hopes that the family, pictured here in 2014, will ever kiss and make up are fading. Photo: Getty Images.

In his explosive 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote that he was advised against speaking out about his relationship with Meghan and that his father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William, were “furious” over his decision.

Earlier this year, the Sussexes were demoted on the official website of Buckingham Palace. Their profiles were moved to the bottom of the royal webpage that lists all of the members of the royal family.

Originally published as Royal family deletes Prince Harry’s 2016 statement about Meghan Markle