Sussexes issue a legal warning on media intrusion
Couple respond to paparazzi shots
THE DUKE and Duchess of Sussex have issued a legal warning to the media not to intrude on their new life in Canada after paparazzi shots of Meghan were published.
In a clear indication that the couple will not tolerate any media intrusion that is deemed inappropriate after deciding to step down from front-line Royal duties, lawyers for Harry and Meghan sent out a warning shot yesterday afternoon.
The images of the Duchess of Sussex emerged on Monday morning and showed her walking her two pets with her eightmonth-old son, Archie, in a baby sling in a park in Vancouver. But the pictures were reportedly taken by photographers hiding in bushes with long-lens cameras.
After the photographs surfaced, the couple’s legal team at Schillings sent a legal notice to the UK Press, TV and photo agencies warning against using them.
Harry rejoined his wife in Canada on Monday evening after hashing out arrangements for the two of them with other senior members of the Royal Family. He had not seen his wife or his young son for 10 days during the talks.
Harry has repeatedly compared the treatment of his wife by the Press to that of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in Paris while being chased by the paparazzi in 1997.
On Sunday evening, at an event for his Africa-based youth mental health charity Sentebale, he described the media as “a powerful force” in a speech.
The Duke said: “I was born into this life, and it is a great honour to serve my country and the Queen.
“When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing.
“You’ve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.
“It has been our privilege to serve you, and we will continue to lead a life of service.”
Following the talks to renegotiate the Sussexes’ relationship with the Royal Family, the Queen said she was “pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family”.
Harry and Meghan had wanted to remain as working Royals, although not prominent members, and drop their public funding so they could become financially independent – a dual role many commentators said was fraught with problems.
Thomas Woodcock, Garter King of Arms and the man who, alongside the Queen, approved Meghan’s coat of arms as Duchess of Sussex, told The Times newspaper yesterday that a halfway house arrangement is “unsatisfactory”.