Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were Naive to Think They’d Have More Privacy in the US, Expert Claims
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex left their royal duties behind in search of a more private way of life. Despite their high hopes for a life out of the spotlight, however, they might face more privacy concerns in the US, an expert explains.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted more privacy
Prince Harry and Meghan shocked the world when they announced their plans to take a step back from their royal duties. After Queen Elizabeth met with other senior royals to discuss whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan could have a half-in/half-out role in the family, it was determined that the Sussexes would leave their royal life behind entirely.
“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” Prince Harry shared in a speech in January. “It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
Will Prince Harry and Meghan get the privacy they want?
While the Sussexes escaped from the spotlight in the UK, royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET that she believes they are struggling with their new chapter in Los Angeles. According to Nicholl, the Sussexes were “sorely mistaken” about their expectations for having more privacy.
“I think one of the big concerns when the couple moved to Los Angeles was security, at least, who was going to pay for that security. It’s my understanding that they’re renting Tyler Perry’s home, which comes with its own security entourage,” Nicholl explained.
She continued, “One of the key issues for them is that they are in the spotlight. They attract a huge amount of attention and their concern has always been how they would balance their private lives with their public roles.”
The Sussexes may have had more privacy in the UK
Despite that desire to escape the media and public attention, Nicholl said Prince Harry and Meghan were actually better protected in the UK.
“A lot of people might think that they have been naive in expecting a greater level of privacy in Los Angeles. America has different privacy rules to the U.K.,” she explained.
Nicholl continued, “While they were living in Britain, there were no paparazzi pictures of them. There was still a gentleman’s agreement between the press and the palace that when the principals — the senior members of the royal family — were enjoying private time, that private time was respected. So if the couple were papped, then the British newspapers agreed with the palace that they wouldn’t use those paparazzi pictures.”
Prince Harry and Meghan were ‘naive’
Nicholl further explained that Prince Harry and Meghan were “naive” in believing that they would have the privacy they desired.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if they were still living at Frogmore House in Windsor, there would not be this level of intrusion. It simply would not be tolerated,” the royal expert explained. “If they had gone to L.A. hoping for a quieter life, where they could duck out of the spotlight, they were sorely mistaken.”
“I think the Sussexes have been a little bit naive to expect that they can move to Beverly Hills, where there’s clearly huge media attention on them, and not be photographed by the paparazzi,” she added.
