- Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have 'zero engagement' with some UK papers
- The statement was made in a letter sent to editors of the British press last night
- Prince Harry and Meghan say they refuse to 'offer themselves up as currency'
- The couple will not speak to the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, The Sun or Daily Express
- The ban also extends to the sister stablemates of those titles and their websites
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they will no longer respond to enquiries from journalists at four British newspaper groups.
The couple are adopting a 'zero engagement' policy with the organisations but insist it is not a move aimed at 'avoiding criticism'.
Los Angeles-based Prince Harry and Meghan say they will never again speak to publications including the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Sun and the Daily Express.
Their letter, sent from a Sussex Royal email, details how their self-imposed ban on contact with a large portion of the British media is a refusal to 'offer themselves up'.
They say they accept the media has 'every right' to report on the high-profile ex-royals, but claim: 'This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It's not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting.'
It continues: 'Like you, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy - particularly in moments of crisis.
'At its best, this free press shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what's right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account.
'It has been said that journalism's first obligation is to the truth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agree wholeheartedly.'
The announcement came hours after Prince Harry was criticised for claiming the UK's Covid-19 crisis is not as bad as the public are being told.
In an interview with the Declassifed podcast, the 35-year-old said that things here are 'better than we are led to believe through certain corners of the media'.
But his comments were branded 'outrageous' by expert Professor Karol Sikora, who asked: 'What are his qualifications for making these comments — other than deserting his country in its hour of need?'
In the letter, which was sent to the editors of the groups involved last night, Harry and Meghan 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.'
Accepting the media has 'every right' to report on the high-profile ex-royals, the letter explains: 'This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It's not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting.
'Media have every right to report on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can't be based on a lie.
'They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.'
The strongly worded letter then goes on to suggest that British tabloids have been responsible for publishing 'salacious gossip' which they know to be 'distorted, false, or invasive beyond reason'.
UK PUBLICATIONS THE BAN WILL COVER
Daily Express
Daily Mail
Daily Mirror
express.co.uk
Mail on Sunday
MailOnline, including US outlet DailyMail.com
mirror.co.uk
Sunday Express
Sunday Mirror
Sunday People
The Sun
The Sun on Sunday
thesun.co.uk
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's letter to Britain's Tabloids
Sent to editors of British newspapers including The Daily Mail, Mirror, The Sun or Express:
'As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now settle into the next chapter of their lives and no longer receive any publicly funded support, we are writing to set a new media relations policy, specifically as it pertains to your organisation.
Like you, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy - particularly in moments of crisis. At its best, this free press shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what's right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account.
It has been said that journalism's first obligation is to the truth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex agree wholeheartedly.
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.
There is a real human cost to this way of doing business and it affects every corner of society.
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. This is also a policy being instated for their communications team, in order to protect that team from the side of the industry that readers never see.
This policy is not about avoiding criticism. It's not about shutting down public conversation or censoring accurate reporting. Media have every right to report on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, good or bad. But it can't be based on a lie. They also want to be very clear: this is not in any way a blanket policy for all media.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to working with journalists and media organisations all over the world, engaging with grassroots media, regional and local media, and young, and up-and-coming journalists, to spotlight issues and causes that so desperately need acknowledging. And they look forward to doing whatever they can to help further opportunities for more diverse and underrepresented voices, who are needed now more than ever.
What they won't do is offer themselves up as currency for an economy of clickbait and distortion.
We are encouraged that this new approach will be heard and respected.'
Piers Morgan slammed the move, tweeting: 'Imagine announcing this in the middle of a global pandemic?
'Imagine thinking anyone cares about their hurt little me-me-me egos as health workers around the world are dying at work? What a pair of repulsive, deluded narcissistic tools.'
Meghan is due to face The Mail on Sunday in court, in a virtual hearing on Friday, over the publishing of a letter she wrote to her estranged father Thomas Markle and Prince Harry has launched separate legal claims against The Sun and The Mirror for alleged historic phone hacking.
Their direct address to the press comes just three weeks after the couple completed their last royal duty, on March 31, before stepping away from the monarchy and dropping their HRH styles and for a life mostly in North America.
In the letter the pair praise the work of the media as a 'cornerstone to any democracy' that 'shines light on dark places, telling stories that would otherwise go untold, standing up for what's right, challenging power, and holding those who abuse the system to account'.
However they state that they have found the actions of an 'influential slice of the media' gravely concerning, adding that they believe there is a 'human cost'.
Both Prince Harry and Meghan say they have 'watched people they know - as well as complete strangers - have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason' by the media.
Writing directly to the editors of Britain's tabloids the ex-royals state: 'Please note that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be engaging with your outlet.
'There will be no corroboration and zero engagement. This is also a policy being instated for their communications team, in order to protect that team from the side of the industry that readers never see.' 
Representatives for The Sussex's added that the 'zero engagement policy' would extend to both the Sunday paper and Online editions of each tabloid.
In one final statement the letter concludes: 'We are encouraged that this new approach will be heard and respected.'
Communications for the couple will now be handled by Sunshine Sachs, a New York based PR firm, with only one UK based representative.
The hard-nosed Manhattan PR company is known for specialising in 'crisis communications' for celebrities.
It has previously worked for Hollywood royalty including Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Jackson's family.
It is not yet known which media outlets will continue to have contact with the Sussexes, but the letter details how the pair 'look forward' to engaging with 'grassroots, regional and local press' to further causes that 'desperately need acknowledging'.
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