Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Choose British Columbia Because of Their Privacy Laws? – Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their desires known, they
want to be left alone by the press. In October 2019, the prince issued a
stern warning to the British media to leave him, his wife and his young son
alone. In a scathing statement, Prince
Harry accused the press of bullying Meghan Markle. The warning did little
to slow coverage, and in January 2020, the couple announced that they’d be
stepping down from royal life in pursuit of more privacy. They appear to have their
sights set on British Columbia as their new home, and there might be an
excellent reason; British Columbia has pretty intense privacy laws.
Are Meghan Markle and Prince Harry really settling in Canada?
Prince Harry arrived on Vancouver
Island last week. He joined his wife and young son, leading most royal
family followers to assume the pair are planning to set down roots in the area.
That might not actually be the case, though. The couple may be merely
vacationing in the area while they consider their options.
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“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.” – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex For more information, please visit sussexroyal.com (link in bio) Image © PA
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Rumors were swirling that they were eyeing a $35 million mansion
in Vancouver’s most exclusive neighborhoods, but according to the
New York Times, the listing agent claimed to be completely unaware of
any interest by the couple. There is
some belief that the couple may be considering Victoria for its moderate
climate, as well as Toronto. Before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Markle
called Toronto home and forged plenty
of friendships there. It’s possible she’d like to head back to an area
where she felt supported.
Speaking of support systems, Markle’s mother resides in
California, and there was some belief that the royal couple would eventually
settle into the sunny landscape of Malibu to be close to Doria
Ragland. Heading to California would offer the couple very little in the
way of protection from the paparazzi, though, and, instead, would place the
family in their direct sights. People
believe New York City might be on the couple’s shortlist, as well. Regardless
of the possible United States locations on media shortlists, Canada, no matter
what city, seems like their most likely home base, and that’s because of the
country’s privacy laws
What privacy laws does Canada have?
Privacy laws exist throughout Canada, but British Columbia appears
to have laws specifically about photography and video. In fact, The Privacy Act
specific to the province allows private citizens to sue individuals if they can
prove that their privacy has been invaded when they had reasonable expectations
of privacy. Surveillance and eavesdropping are also considered violations of
the law.
The laws, however, have not been tested when it comes to a celebrity
just yet. Canada, by and large, does not have the
paparazzi culture that exists in other parts of the world. It’s also
impossible to tell how the country’s laws would translate to individuals who
are not citizens of the country. For example, it’s hard to say if the regulation
would be enforceable on individuals who travel to Canada to photograph the
couple. By and large, privacy laws in the province and the overarching federal
regulations have been primarily used for organizational data breaches.
Will Harry and Meghan be left alone if they do settle in British
Columbia?
While British Columbia does have privacy laws on the books, the
Huffington Post notes that they’ve very rarely been challenged, and
winning a case would be difficult. Any photos taken in a public space of a public
figure would likely be considered fair game, explains Roger McConchie, a Vancouver-based
lawyer who spoke with the Huffington Post. Since the royal couple are
considered public figures, their privacy is far from a sure thing.
If Markle and Prince Harry were to have their pictures taken in
public, like in a park or out to eat, those pictures would likely be considered
publishable. Photos that are taken using telephoto lenses of the couple in a
home or in a private space, however, are subject to privacy laws, and any
publication who chooses to use them could be sued, according to the privacy
regulations currently on file.
The BBC suggests
that the couple was probably safer from the lens of paparazzi back in the
United Kingdom. Paparazzi photos of the couple have not been published since
their wedding, although the media firestorm surrounding their movements is part
of the reason they stepped away from the royal family, according to reports.
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