Once again, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle find themselves at the center of controversy, making headlines. What initially seemed like an almost catastrophic chase story, has begun to generate skepticism and doubts in the public, who now see them as exaggerated.
The statement issued by the representative of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex raised a scenario of a serious invasion of their privacy in a public space, bringing to mind the tragic images of August 31, 1997, at the Pont de l’Alma in Paris, where Princess Diana lost her life.
The reaction of the NYPD denying the seriousness of the chase raises the possibility that Meghan and Harry tried to link her life to that of Lady Di. Something Meghan has done in the past when she hinted that, like her mother-in-law, she had also considered suicide during her time as a royal.
New York Mayor Eric Adams evoked this life-shattering event for Harry, possibly influencing his disproportionate perception of the situation.
In both the Netflix docuseries and the book “Spare,” the Sussexes have said they are experiencing the same thing Princess Diana experienced.
Fight between the Sussexes and Backgrid photo agency
In the midst of the conflict with the major UK tabloids, where they denounced wiretapping and harassment, the couple has now realized that in the United States, the paparazzi operate in the same way.
Meghan and Harry’s lawyers demanded that photo agency Backgrid hand over images taken after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the Ms. Foundation 2023 Women of Vision Awards on Tuesday night. But the agency refused their request, explaining that in the U.S. they cannot require the release of photographic material.
The agency reported that it received a letter from the couple’s lawyers that said:
“We hereby demand that Backgrid immediately provide us with copies of all photos, videos, and/or films taken last night by the freelance photographers after the couple left their event and over the next several hours.”
Backgrid claimed that its freelance photographers followed the couple, but were not “highly aggressive” and did not cause a dangerous situation.
Recall that a spokesperson for the couple claimed that Harry, Meghan, and her mother, Doria Ragland, were involved in a “near-catastrophic car chase” while being pursued by “a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi” in New York City.
The NYPD reported that “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at their destination and there were no reported collisions, summonses, injuries, or arrests in regard.”
This new controversy once again highlights the delicate balance between privacy and media attention that Harry and Meghan face. While it is understandable that they wish to protect their privacy and safeguard their security, they must be mindful of the impact they generate by being public figures.
