LONDON — Prince Harry condemned the media for subjecting girlfriend Meghan Markle to “a wave of abuse and harassment,” issuing a highly unusual statement Tuesday that confirmed his relationship with the American actress and expressed concern for her safety.

Harry’s office said while the 32-year-old prince understood there was significant curiosity about his private life, a line had been crossed in terms of media intrusion. Harry said the statement was issued in hopes that media driving the story will “pause.”

“Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,” said the statement from Kensington Palace. “It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.”

The 35-year-old Markle is best known for playing paralegal Rachel Zane in the TV legal drama “Suits.”

Tabloids in Britain and beyond have jumped on the story and speculated about the relationship for weeks, with many commenting on her mixed-race heritage and contrasting her background with the prince’s. The palace said the harassment has “been very public” with racial undertones and the “outright sexism and racism” on social media.