Prince Charles’ lawyers are trying to stop the relentless hounding by the paparazzi of his son’s long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton.
LONDON: Prince Charles’ lawyers are trying to stop the relentless hounding by the paparazzi of his son’s long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton, something that caused the death of his ex-wife Princess Diana.
Prince William’s girlfriend Kate celebrated her 25th birthday on Tuesday and the occasion is marked by front page photographs of her in all the newspapers and cover stories about her romance with the future king, possible engagement and comparisons with the young Diana in magazines.
William and Charles are said to be worried about the relentless harassment Kate faces every day with dozens of photographers waiting outside her house 24/7 and pursuing her on motorbikes and cars in much the same way they behaved with the late Diana from the time she became engaged to Charles till she died.
The lawyers are said to be investigating criminal and civil law on harassment and are also looking at the Human Rights Act and building on recent privacy rulings to restrict the paparazzi. The law firm Harbottle & Lewis is warning newspapers and broadcasters to “sharpen up their act.” A spokesman for Prince Charles and Prince William said “Middleton is a private individual and as such can expect to have the privacy and private life that would be enjoyed by any member of the public.”
While Diana’s pictures can still sell newspapers and magazines even 10 years after her death, Kate still has a long way to go before she reaches her status. But even so, a shot of Kate simply walking along the road can fetch up to a £1,000. A shot with a little more of a story like her recent run in with a parking attendant can push the price higher. A picture of Kate in bikini can be sold for about £25,000 — hence the pack of photographers following her every move.
Harbottle & Lewis is in continual contact with media houses to try and secure an informal agreement to protect Kate. On Monday night a senior editor of The Sun, the UK’s most-widely read tabloid and a plum destination for free lance photographers said that the paper would not use any more paparazzi pictures of Kate. “They would no longer be part of the media circus outside her house,” he added.
Kate has not yet spoken out against the attention, but has allowed her lawyers to do so. They have sent out warning letters whenever press attention has become too threatening. She is also getting protection from the royal family in a way that Diana never did.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}