The Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly supportive of Meghan Markle's relationship with her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, telling friends that the actor was "a keeper." The Duchess, who also experienced relentless media intrusion when her relationship with Prince William became public, is also said to be offering advice on how to deal with press interest.

According to New Zealand-based Woman's Day magazine, an insider said: "Kate is thrilled that Harry has finally found a girlfriend who looks like being a keeper. She only wants the very best for her lovely brother-in-law – and Meghan looks like she fits the bill."

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The Mail Online asked Kensington Palace to verify the quote but did not get a response. According to the Mail the two couples had not previously met before Markle's stay at the Palace.

The Palace has so far refused to officially make any comment on the couple's relationship, which is believed to have started in June.

However, on 8 November, Prince Harry issued a strongly worded statement in which he asked for privacy and claimed that Markle, 35, had been the victim of racist harassment.

"[Harry's] girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment," said the statement. "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."

Both royal princes have strong feelings about media harassment following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. She was in a car being pursued by the paparazzi when it crashed in a Paris underpass.

Meghan Markle Prince Harry