Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Sue Over Photos of Archie Taken in Their Garden
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have launched legal action over alleged photographs of their son Archie, taken without their permission.
Multiple reports states that legal papers were filed in California—where the family are currently residing in Meghan's native Los Angeles—on Thursday July 23 and claim that photographs were taken of the couple's 14-month-old playing in the garden of their private family home.
Meghan and Harry are fiercely private of their son, and claim the photos violate California's privacy laws, specifically a civil code (1708.8) which states:
A person is liable for physical invasion of privacy when the person knowingly enters onto the land or into the airspace above the land of another person without permission or otherwise commits a trespass in order to capture any type of visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of the plaintiff engaging in a private, personal, or familial activity and the invasion occurs in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person.
The couple claim drones and helicopters have been used and also alleged that photographers have cut holes in the family's fence to peer through. The New York Times reports that the Sussexes do not know who has the photos but are seeking to unearth more information.
They are being represented by lawyer Michael Kump, whose previous celebrity clients include Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Sandra Bullock.
In a statement, shared by royal correspondent Omid Scobie, Kump issued a statement affirming that every individual in California is entitled to a right to privacy, and "no drones, helicopters, or telephoto lenses can take away that right."
"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," he added.
Mr. Kump—who represents a wide array of clients, including the Kardashian and Jenner sisters, Sandra Bullock and Shaquille O’Neal—says in a statement that Harry and Meghan have filed this lawsuit to protect Archie’s right to privacy and to expose those profiting from invading it: pic.twitter.com/9T9XzlH1yE
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) July 24, 2020
This is the latest in a series of actions the couple have taken to protect their privacy, including an ongoing court case with the Mail On Sunday in which the Duchess of Sussex claims her privacy was breached when the newspaper published a private letter written to her estranged father. The publisher denies the claims and the case is ongoing.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been approached for comment.
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