Diane Abbott, Jess Phillips, Stella Creasy were among the 72 women who put their names to the open letter which condemned the "distasteful and misleading nature" of newspaper stories about Meghan and her family.

They pledged to use the "means at our disposal" to ensure the press respect her right to privacy and that their stories "reflect the truth".

The letter, posted to social media by Labour MP Holly Lynch today and mainly signed by Labour MPs, said that the media had printed stories and headlines which "sought to cast aspersions" on Meghan's character.

"As women MPs of all political persuasions, we wanted to express our solidarity with you in taking a stand against the often distasteful and misleading nature of the stories printed in a number of our national newspapers concerning you, your character and your family," the letter read.

"On occasions, stories and headlines have represented an invasion of your privacy and have sought to cast aspersions about your character, without any good reason as far as we can see.

"Even more concerning still, we are calling out what can only be described as outdated, colonial undertones to some of there stories.

"As women members of Parliament from all backgrounds, we stand with you in saying it cannot be allowed to go unchallenged."

The letter said that as women in public life, female MPs understood the "abuse and intimidation" used as a "means of disparaging women in public office".

It added: "Although we find ourselves being women in public life in a very different way to you, we share an understanding of the abuse and intimidation which is now so often used as a means of disparaging women in public office from getting on with our very important work.

"We expect the national media to have the integrity to know when a story is in the national interest, and when it is seeking to tear a woman down for no apparent reason.

"You have our assurances that we stand with you in solidarity on this."