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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have spoken out following claims on a website that British tabloid The Sun paid a private investigator to investigate her life.
The Sun US hired private investigator Dan Hanks to obtain information on Markle and her father Thomas, in 2016, shortly after she began dating Prince Harry, according to a report by Byline Investigates.
“Hanks obtained the private information of the Markles through deception, including their social security numbers, a crime in the United States as in the United Kingdom,” the report alleges. “Six of her private phone numbers were also obtained from a protected database, including Meghan’s cell phone. Within days, The Sun published an article quoting an anonymous ‘friend’, claiming that Prince Harry had ‘bombarded Meghan with text messages’ before their first date. “
The report, released Thursday, also claims that the tabloid frenzy around the Markles ultimately sparked a rift in the family. “The Sun also tried to ‘dig some dirt’ on the Duchess of Sussex, commissioning Hanks to locate her ex-husband and two of her alleged ex-boyfriends,” the report says. “But it seems they couldn’t find any scandals in the ‘Suits’ actress, and instead used Hanks’ file to target distant relatives, who criticized her success.”
A spokesperson for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in an emailed statement to Variety that the couple “feel that today is an important moment of reflection for the media industry and society in general, as this research report shows that the predatory practices of days gone by continue, reaping irreversible damage for families and the relationships. They are grateful to those who work in the media and defend the values of journalism, which are more necessary now than ever ”.
Byline Investigates is a collectively funded team of London-based journalists covering stories about other media organizations. The outlet’s report was shared and verified by the BBC and the New York Times.
Hanks publicly apologized to the Sussexes and The Queen in the Byline Investigates report.
“I feel sorry for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for targeting their family, particularly their dad, on behalf of The Sun. I never wanted to hurt Meghan Markle, and I wouldn’t have done the job if I knew this would lead to all these problems, ”Hanks said. “I also wanted to take this opportunity to apologize to The Queen, because I realize that the damage of what I did for The Sun has affected the whole family.”
In a statement, The Sun News Group Newspapers editor told the BBC: “In 2016, The Sun legitimately requested Mr. Hanks to investigate the contact details and addresses of Meghan Markle and possible relatives using legal databases. that he was licensed to use. They paid him $ 250.
“Mr. Hanks was not tasked with doing anything illegal or violating any privacy laws; in fact, it was clearly ordered in writing to act legally and signed a legal commitment that it would, ”the statement read.
“The information he provided could not and did not raise any concern that he had used illegal practices to obtain the information. At no point did The Sun ask for Meghan Markle’s social security number, or use the information she provided for any illegal practices. The Sun complies with all laws and regulations and maintains strict protocols regarding obtaining information from third parties. There is strict compliance to cover all of our reports. “
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