Story highlights
Prince says he is worried about Markle's safety
Statement says actress subject to online sexism, racism
London (CNN)Britain's Prince Harry warned the media Tuesday against harassing his American girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle, in a rare statement issued by Kensington Palace.
The statement, which confirms the pair's relationship for the first time, said that "the past week has seen a line crossed," and accused the press and social media trolls of sexist and racial abuse.
"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," read the statement, which was issued by Prince Harry's communications secretary through the palace Twitter account.
Meghan Markle at AOL Studios in New York on March 17, 2016.
"Some of it has been hidden from the public -- the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of the papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers to get to her front door."
The warning put an end to weeks of media speculation over whether the two were in a relationship.
The palace statement said Markle, who lives in Toronto where her TV series "Suits" is filmed, has had photographers try to break into her home and that her ex-boyfriend had been offered "substantial bribes" by various newspapers.
Prince Harry meets members of the public on October 26, 2016, in the English city of Nottingham.
"Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her," the statement read.
The prince, 32, asked for his statement to be issued so that the press behind the story could "pause and reflect before any further damage is done."
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