Sex abuse claims hit Harry’s wedding

BRITAIN: Mario Testino has been ruled out as the official photographer for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after being accused of sexually exploiting models and assistants.

Testino had been the frontrunner to take the wedding portraits, according to fashion industry insiders, but has now been discounted.

The 63-year-old had become the royal family’s preferred photographer, having taken the last official portraits of Diana, Princess of Wales, before her death in 1997. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Testino to capture their engagement in 2010 and picked him as the photographer for Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015.

A fashion industry source said: ‘‘There is no doubt Testino was the frontrunner to do Harry and Meghan’s wedding. They didn’t use him for their engagement photos but by then rumours were already circulating about Mario. He won’t be used now.’’

Kensington Palace declined to comment. ‘‘It is not something we are commenting on at this stage,’’ said a spokesman for Prince Harry and Markle. ‘‘We have not provided any further details on who will be photographing the wedding.’’

The couple are due to get married in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19.

According to The New York Times, 13 male models and assistants have claimed they were subjected to Testino’s advances and were threatened that, if they didn’t acquiesce, their careers would be in jeopardy.

Testino, who has a home in London, has vehemently denied the allegations. – Telegraph Group