Royals’ neighbours say ‘stay away’ with flowers Canada
Their presence in Canada has been the subject of acute public intrigue, attracting in turn the inevitable influx of journalists and paparazzi. But in many ways, Prince Harry and wife Meghan could not have chosen a better place to shield themselves from prying eyes than the rural enclave of North Saanich, Vancouver Island.
The community was quick to embrace the family, and has actively sought to thwart even the most imaginative attempts to clap eyes on them.
The latest salvo designed to protect their royal neighbours has come in the form of a request to the council for new trees and signs to protect their privacy.
One local has requested that rhododendrons to be planted outside the Sussexes’ waterside mansion to create a fenced-off area.
Others urged the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to step in against what they see as paparazzi intrusion. One member of the fiercely vigilant community has formed a Facebook group to identify the locations of paparazzi. Others are said to delight in toying with journalists.
Deep Cove Market, a cafe where the Duke of Sussex has been spotted buying sandwiches, has declared itself a ‘‘press-free zone’’.
Such efforts have not gone unnoticed by the couple.
Miles Arsenault, who runs a water taxi from nearby Deep Cove, received a personal phone call from the duchess after it was reported that he had refused to ferry Japanese photographers keen to shoot their home.
One photographer, who asked not to be named, said paparazzi had been intimidated by locals and even threatened with being beaten up. Some had been told by the police that they could receive ‘‘public nuisance tickets’’.
– Telegraph Group