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The Duchess of Sussex filed privacy and data protection claims against Splash News and Picture Agency in March over the long-lens photographs.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited Action Aid on October 1, 2019. The organization works against poverty and injustice to discuss gender-based violence and its impact in South Africa. Image: Kayleen Morgan / EWN
LONDON – Meghan Markle has settled a claim against a news agency that took pictures of her and her young son Archie in a Canadian park, the High Court in London reported on Friday.
The Duchess of Sussex filed privacy and data protection claims against Splash News and Picture Agency in March over the long-lens photographs.
A lawyer for the former American television actress, who married Prince Harry in 2018, said Splash UK entered administration after the claim aired and was delivered.
Judge Matthew Nicklin said at the hearing: “In light of the administration, the parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit against Splash UK.
“The administrators of Splash UK have agreed that, should the entity leave administration, Splash UK will not take photographs of the Duke and Duchess or their son in the future.”
The photos were taken on January 20 this year and show Markle walking with Archie in a baby carrier and their two dogs at Horth Hill Regional Park on Vancouver Island.
Their attorney, Jenny Afia, said a Splash photographer had conducted a “full reconnaissance inspection” of the home where they were staying and had put his camera over the fence to take pictures.
The Schillings law firm said the agreement was “a clear sign that illegal, invasive and intrusive paparazzi behavior will not be tolerated.”
A separate but similar claim against Splash US is also in the UK courts, he added.
The claim, filed by Markle on their behalf, and the couple by Archie, is one of several by the Duke and Duchess against media groups since they withdrew from the royal front.
Harry, who is the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, has said that the sound of the cameras was a constant reminder of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
He died in a high-speed car accident in Paris in 1997 while trying to escape the paparazzi.
Since moving to California, Harry and Meghan have signed big-money contracts with streaming giants Netflix and Spotify to produce movies and podcasts.
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