Sussexes complain they are being ‘stalked’ by paparazzi in Canada
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex have issued a legal warning over paparazzi photographs of Meghan and Archie in Canada, complaining that they are being “stalked” following their split from the Royal family.
Within hours of the Duke of Sussex joining his wife and son on Vancouver Island for a more “peaceful” life yesterday, the couple’s lawyers Schillings sent out a strongly worded letter claiming that images had been taken by paparazzi who had been “hiding in the bushes and spying”.
The complaint came after The Sun published pictures showing a smiling
Duchess walking her dogs while carrying her eight-month-old son in a sling.
Accompanied by two bodyguards, the 38-year-old can be been seen with her beagle Guy and a black Labrador.
Although the former actress is captured cheerfully looking straight down the lens, sources close to the couple vehemently denied she consented and insisted they were extremely alarmed about recent paparazzi activity.
A royal source said: “After weeks of being stalked, their house surrounded, erratic car chases and photos taken into the house from photographers patrolling on boats – this is the final straw.
“On Monday, a pap photographer, who had followed Meghan from the house, took surreptitious photos while hiding in the bushes. These photos have been published online and by a number of UK newspapers, with no consideration of how they were obtained. This type of continual harassment and the ignoring of numerous legal notices asking them to stop obviously raises serious safety and security concerns and is causing them considerable distress.”
The incident will raise questions about the couple’s decision to quit the UK due to the “bullying” British tabloids when they were rarely pursued by paparazzi photographers due to a long-standing agreement between the palace and editors following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Now no longer members of the Royal family, the couple are being treated as “celebrities” in North America – which one paparazzo said was “like the Wild West compared to Britain”.
It will also raise questions over the couple’s publicly funded security, which is under review.
Yesterday, Robert Buckland, the Justice Secretary, expressed concern about the taxpayer continuing to fund the couple’s Metropolitan Police protection officers, who are in Canada.
He said: “I am, of course, concerned to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used effectively in order to provide protection to people who are offering a service to the British public.”
Monday’s photographs, and others of the Duchess boarding a sea plane and then driving to the airport, were released by Backgrid picture agency and Splash News.