Prince Harry has denied a statement which blasted the media coverage of his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle was due to fears she would dump him.
In 2016 he issued an angry statement which attacked coverage of Meghan, who was then his girlfriend.
The Duke of Sussex alleged she was the "subject to a wave of abuse and harassment".
Now it has been claimed by The Times that Harry instructed his office to put out the media-blasting statement over fears Meghan would leave him.
But the couple have denied this was the case through their media spokesman.
Jason Knauf, Harry's communications secretary, is said to have issued the comments which criticised the undertones of comment pieces which had emerged.
A report claimed he was "freaking out' he would be dumped by Meghan - something categorically denied by the Suessexes, who have since left the UK to start a new life in Los Angeles with their two children.
A source is alleged to have told the Times: "It did feel like that if the palace was not able to stand up and support his girlfriend, against some of that disgusting coverage... then who in their right mind would ever consider entering into a relationship [with him] in the future?
"He was very exercised about some of that coverage.
"He definitely felt that if nothing was done to support here, then she would be, 'I'm not sure this is what I signed up for'."
Another source quoted in the title said Harry was "freaking out" about it.
But the suggestions have been denied by a spokesman for the couple as false.
Harry and Meghan now live in the US after severing ties with the royal family have been invited to present an award at the Oscars next weekend.
It is understood they were offered a chance to present an honour in one of the winning categories.
The prince married Meghan Markle in May 2018 in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in a ceremony attended by high-profile guests.
The royal couple have since had a son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, in May 2019, and daughter Lilibet in June 2021.
The couple announced their decision to step back from the royal family in 2020 and now live in California.
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