72 female MPs express ‘solidarity’ with Meghan Markle over British media treatment

Letter condemned 'outdated, colonial undertones' of some articles

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, takes part in Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in South Africa, September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool/File Photo

A large group of female British MPs have declared their solidarity with the Duchess of Sussex over “distasteful and misleading” news coverage about her.

An open letter signed by 72 MPs that was released on Tuesday expressed concern of “outdated, colonial undertones” to some of the stories that were written about Meghan Markle.

The cross-party group who signed the letter said that certain articles had invaded Meghan’s privacy and cast aspersions about her character.

“Although we find ourselves being women in public life in a very different way to you, we share an understanding of the abuse and intimidation that is now so often used as a means of disparaging women in public office from getting on with our very important work,” the letter said.

“With this in mind, we expect the national media to have the integrity to know when a story is in the national interest, and when it is seeking to tear a woman down for no apparent reason.

“You have our assurances that we stand with you in solidarity on this.

"We will use the means at our disposal to ensure that our press accept your right to privacy and show respect, and that their stories reflect the truth.”

Megan recently revealed in an interview that British friends told her not to marry Prince Harry because the tabloid press would “destroy” her life.

In early October, she and Harry said they would take legal action against the Mail on Sunday after it published one of Meghan's private letters.

In an emotionally charged statement on the royal couple’s official website, Harry said they made the decision after the “painful impact of relentless propaganda” against his wife from the British tabloid press.

The prince referred to past press coverage of his mother Princess Diana, saying he feared “history repeating itself”.

Diana became one of the most photographed women on the planet after she married into the British royal family.

She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 after being followed through the streets by press photographers.

Her funeral was watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world.