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Meghan Markle has found herself at the centre of public criticism and speculation since her marriage to Prince Harry, but a recent flood of online abuse has been so severe that Kensington Palace has issued a stern warning to internet trolls.
The latest attack on the Duchess of Sussex was prompted by a photo from a gala reception during the royal couple’s tour of Morocco last month.
Meghan – who was roughly seven months pregnant when the picture was taken – stunned style watchers in an Arabian inspired custom Dior gown.
WATCH: Meghan wows in Dior gown as she steps out for formal gala with Harry in Morocco
But despite her elegant glamour, vicious trolls honed in on a different detail – the 37-year-old’s slightly protruding belly button which was gently poking through the fabric of her dress.
As reported by Express.co.uk, a “popped” or prominent belly button indicates a pregnancy has almost reached full term and is a standard occurrence for women of all ages and racial backgrounds.
On Tuesday the royal family issued a statement via the Palace press office slamming hateful rhetoric and demanding users use respect and etiquette when commenting on the Windsor’s official social media pages.
The statement began: “The aim of our social media channels is to create an environment where our community can engage safely in debate and is free to make comments, questions and suggestions.
“We ask that anyone engaging with our social media channels shows courtesy, kindness and respect for all other members of our social media communities.”
The royal family also listed specific user guidelines to follow when engaging with dedicated social media accounts and the absolute prohibition on discriminatory content.
Mum-to-be Meghan has been victim to a barrage of racist slurs in recent months.
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