Harry and Meghan Filed an Invasion of Privacy Lawsuit Over Photos of Archie
They claim paparazzi illegally flew drones to photograph their son in the backyard.
After announcing that they were stepping down from their royal duties and moving to Los Angeles earlier this year, it seems that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are still facing issues protecting their family’s privacy. The couple has filed an invasion of privacy lawsuit, claiming that paparazzi have deployed drones over their new L.A. home, illegally taking photos of baby Archie in their backyard.
The court documents, which were obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, allege “serial intrusions on the privacy of a 14-month-old child in his own home, and the desire and responsibility of any parent to do what is necessary to protect their children from this manufactured feeding frenzy.”
According to the documents, British tabloid the Daily Mail published the couple’s new address, leading to disturbing intrusions on their privacy.
“Some paparazzi and media outlets have flown drones a mere 20 feet above the house, as often as three times a day, to obtain photographs of the couple and their young son in their private residence,” per their lawyer, Michael Kump. “Others have flown helicopters above the backyard of the residence, as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 7:00 p.m., waking neighbors and their son, day after day. And still others have even cut holes in the security fence itself to peer through it.”
Noting the family’s desire to lead a more private lifestyle, their lawyer added that they “have done everything in their power to stay out of the limelight except in connection with their work, which they freely admit is newsworthy.” However, he makes the distinction between Harry and Meghan (and Archie) being in the spotlight for their work and for their private, family life.
“But the photos at issue are not news. They are not public interest. They are harassment. The sole point to taking and/or selling such invasive photos is to profit from a child,” he wrote. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are filing this lawsuit to protect their young son’s right to privacy in their home without intrusion by photographers, and to uncover and stop those who seek to profit from these illegal actions.”
The pair are still involved in another legal battle with the British press after The Mail on Sunday published a private letter that Markle wrote to her father, Thomas Markle, along with multiple stories aimed at defaming her character.
We can’t imagine how scary it must feel to experience that sort of unwanted attention and surveillance your own home. Hopefully, the couple can receive the justice—along with the peace and privacy—they deserve.
