Meghan Markle is suing a picture agency over paparazzi photos of her walking her dogs with her son, Archie.
The Duchess of Sussex claims her privacy was violated when the photos were taken in Vancouver in January. She has launched legal action against Splash News, alleging that data protection laws were violated when the photos were sold to British newspapers.
At the High Court in London on Thursday afternoon, September 3, it was argued that Meghan and her son’s privacy was invaded during the incident.
Her barrister, Jonathan Barnes, representing Meghan and her son, denied suggestions that she agreed to the pictures being taken or “acquiesced” when she saw the photographer, Steve Dennett from Splash.
“They were photographed in this location,” he told the court, emphasizing that the photos were taken in Vancouver.
He argued that Meghan and her son, who was eight months old at the time, were walking on a “private recreational route” on Vancouver Island, close to the £10 million mansion where they were staying at the time.
“The day before, Mr. Dennett was at the private home of the claimants, taking photos through the security fence,” said Mr. Barnes, implying a deliberate invasion of privacy.
Mr. Barnes noted that the photos were sold by Splash to Associated Newspapers and News Group, publishers of the Mail and The Sun, and were later published online.
“The conduct, essentially trading of private information or personal data, all took place here,” he said, highlighting the breach of privacy.
Meghan’s lawyers sent Splash a cease and desist letter, but the agency did not withdraw the images, prompting an application to the court for an injunction to prevent their further use.
At the hearing, the judge ruled in favor of the Duchess, allowing her lawyers to serve court papers on the LA-based operation of Splash News.
The legal claim is being brought by the Duchess of Sussex and Archie Mountbatten Windsor, with both mother and father, Prince Harry, acting as litigation friends for their one-year-old son.
Legal papers will be served on Splash in the US, giving the agency an opportunity to file a defense to the privacy claim.
