Ironically, the concept of irony is akin to art—it becomes evident when observed. Let's take a recent example from the United States, where they celebrated their independence from King George III in 1776.
The occasion is all about forgetting British tyranny, making it an ideal time for Prince Harry to emerge from his self-imposed exile. He was seen in his and Megan's hometown of Montecito, a wealthy community north of LA, during the holiday weekend. Thanks to the efforts of the paparazzi, we are aware of this fact.
These new photographs depict the 38-year-old Harry, with his trademark forlorn expression, wearing a khaki shirt. However, the noteworthy aspect is the presence of his adorable two-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet. It is crucial to consider the time and place of these images. They represent a truly pitiful first for the little princess—a girl named after an iconic queen and seventh in line to the throne. This is the first time she has been photographed by the paparazzi.
In contrast, her older brother, Prince Archie, was around eight months old when he experienced a similar milestone back in early 2020. He and his mother Megan were captured by paparazzi while taking a stroll in a park near their borrowed house on Vancouver Island. During that time, they also documented the paparazzi, helicopters, cars, and boats chasing after them. Later, this footage was used in their Netflix docu-series.
A few months later, the family relocated to another borrowed mansion, this time in Beverly Hills. Supposedly, drones and helicopters from photo agencies were flown over their garden to capture pictures of the boy. In Megan and Harry's Netflix series, which attracts both masochists and aspiring propagandists, Megan expressed her distress about Archie being awakened at 5 am due to helicopters flying overhead.
In a subsequent privacy lawsuit, they claimed that helicopters flew over their backyard as early as 5:30 am and as late as 7 pm, disturbing their son and neighbors day after day. There were even instances of individuals cutting holes in the security fences to peer inside their property.
Megan and Harry took legal action regarding the Canadian park incidents, and they were successful in their claims. However, this was only a glimpse of what was to come. In 2020, they reportedly purchased a home in Montecito, and according to TMZ, their new neighbors were already growing tired of the constant helicopter activity. Choppers were said to zoom over Harry and Megan's neighborhood up to four times a day, and paparazzi were allegedly lurking near their home and a nearby shopping center.
While there is much to say about Megan and Harry—and we have expressed many opinions—there is no denying their love for their children, assuming they are indeed real. When they fled the UK for the US and sought freedom, they undoubtedly believed it was in the best interest of their kids' futures. Nevertheless, it's challenging not to observe the consequences of that decision for Archie and Lilibet in terms of their exposed lives.
The disparity between their childhood experiences and those of their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, is vast. There are countless ways in which their upbringing will differ, particularly when compared to the children of the Wales family in the UK, not least due to Archie and Lilibet won't be obligated to spend a springtime Saturday waving from a carriage and pretending to enjoy bagpipes.
However, the paparazzi factor remains significant. George, Charlotte, and Louis are expected to pose for annual birthday photos, as well as those for Father's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas. Usually, these pictures are taken in their backyard by the camera-wielding Catherine.
George, Charlotte, and Louis have the expectation of sharing themselves with the public, with no say in the matter. That obligation is already an integral part of their lives. However, what sets William and Catherine apart from Harry and Megan is a greater sense of control over how and when their children are presented to the public.
The little Cambridges face expectations and demands that Archie and Lilibet will never encounter. Nevertheless, the Sussex children will grow up knowing that whenever they step outside the privacy of their gated and guarded home, it becomes open season for the paparazzi.
I want to emphasize that I do not condone this situation. The unfortunate reality is that the American prince and princess will grow up without the restrictions and regulations on press coverage of children that exist in the UK but not in the US. During George's first year, he had some encounters with paparazzi in London, until his parents reached an understanding with the Fleet Street photographers. They released staged photos of their child, and in return, the photographers refrained from stalking him.
These days, German and Italian tabloid magazines occasionally publish paparazzi shots of the Cambridge children, but the UK press does not engage in such practices. There was one exception in 2021 when William, Catherine, and their three children were photographed while having lunch, but no formal complaint was filed, suggesting their acceptance of it.
Nevertheless, there has never been a long-lens shot of George, Charlotte, or Louis being dropped off or picked up at school, and the press has never photographed them playing in their gardens. However, such instances have occurred with Archie, despite his younger age. An agreement exists between Kensington Palace and the UK media that royal children should not be surreptitiously photographed, except for occasions when William and Catherine are aware of media presence, such as at a horse show, for instance.
When Harry and Megan decided to move to California, they willingly relinquished these protections and lost much of the control they previously had over the press's interactions involving their children.
The rules and guidelines that prevent us from seeing photos of Catherine taking her three children to the supermarket simply don't apply in the US. This also means that William and Catherine can shield their family from media intrusion in a way that Harry and Megan can no longer do. It's not to say that everything is perfect in the UK, but the situation is undoubtedly better.
For instance, in January 2019, Harry and Megan decided to give up their rented Cotswolds Weekender after the media took pictures of their backyard. However, their former official residence, Frogmore Cottage, being part of the Windsor estate, reportedly had certain airspace restrictions in place.
While Harry and Megan have taken a strong stance in defending their family's privacy, maintaining it will require additional legal battles and being more proactive. The cases they brought against Splash and X17 in 2020 did little to prevent the recent photos of Harry and Lilibet.
Living in the US, the Sussex children will grow up constantly aware that photographers may be observing them at any given time, and this knowledge will permanently occupy their minds. If Archie and Lilibet, assuming they exist, become the subjects of lifelong public fascination, especially when they reach their teenage and young adult years.
The intrusion and presence of the paparazzi will only become more prevalent in their lives as time goes on. Having lived in the US for a little over three years, Harry and Megan have been repeatedly followed and photographed while hiking, at the beach, shopping, engaging in charity work, boarding and disembarking private jets, and when leaving various restaurants, apartments, and offices on both the West and East coasts.
Although there is a possibility that Meghan Markle may have tipped them off in some instances, it is noteworthy that, apart from the staged pub photo, not a single unplanned or unauthorized picture of William, Catherine, and their children has surfaced anywhere.
Let's revisit the irony of the situation during a weekend when the US celebrated its independence from British rule, something that Megan and Harry can surely relate to. However, it marked the beginning of a lifetime where Lilibet's privacy will gradually erode. It seems that freedom doesn't hold much significance after all.
