Harry And Meghan Sue Paparazzi Over Drone Pics Of Archie

LOS ANGELES, CA — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are suing unnamed paparazzi over what they are calling an invasion of privacy through the use of drones and powerful telephoto lenses to obtain pictures of their 14-month-old son, Archie.

The couple stepped away from their royal duties in Britain earlier this year and recently moved into a Coldwater Canyon-area compound.

"Some paparazzi and media outlets have flown drones a mere 20 feet above the house, as often as three times a day, to obtain photographs of the couple and their young son in their private residence, some of which have been sold and published," according to the lawsuit, filed Thursday at the Santa Monica courthouse. "Others have flown helicopters above the backyard of the residence, as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m., waking neighbors and their son, day after day. And still others have even cut holes in the security fence itself to peer through it."

The suit, filed by celebrity attorney Michael Kump, states that the couple have tried to ignore the intrusions, but their demeanor changed with the recent circulation of photos that purported to show Archie during a family outing in Malibu. According to the lawsuit, Archie has never been out in public, "let alone in Malibu," since the family arrived in the Southland.

"It is clear from a description of the photographs being shopped that they were taken of activities in the backyard of the residence, unbeknownst to the plaintiffs," the suit states.

The suit claims such photos were taken illegally of people on private property through the use of "devices such as drones and telephoto lenses."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

City News Service