The Duke and Duchess of Sussex told British tabloids that they would never deal with their outlets again.
Prince Harry and Meghan sent a letter to the editors of Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror and Express on Sunday night, and said that they would not respond to any inquiries from journalists working for them.
They stressed that there will be a “zero engagement” policy, except when necessary through the couple’s lawyers.
According the a version of the letter sent to a news agency, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know — as well as complete strangers — have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.”
“With that said, please note that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet. There will be no corroboration and zero engagement,” the letter states.
The move is specifically taken to signal the public not to trust any of the reporting by British tabloids about the couple.
This means that tabloids would not be given access to the duke and duchess’ photographs or updates shared by the couple’s media team, but it is unclear if tabloids will be banned from media events organized by the couple.
The couple’s representative said, “It is gravely concerning that an influential slice of the media, over many years, has sought to insulate themselves from taking accountability for what they say or print – even when they know it to be distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason. When power is enjoyed without responsibility, the trust we all place in this much-needed industry is degraded.”
The representative clarified that they are happy to engage with other outlets, “to spotlight issues and causes that so desperately need acknowledging … What they won’t do is offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion.”