Some observers suspected that Meghan may have orchestrated the pictures taken in the Santa Barbara parking lot, leading to accusations of staging. There were speculations that she may have tipped off the paparazzi about her plans, and some even believed that she timed the release of the photos to divert attention from the royal family's appearance at the Diplomatic reception. Video footage obtained by The Daily Mail showed Meghan's bodyguard escorting her to a car after the paparazzi encounter. Interestingly, a passerby walked right past them without paying any attention.
This raised questions about the authenticity of the paparazzi encounter, as it seemed staged. Many noted that the surroundings in the video, including the stairs, appeared similar to those in a previous instance where Meghan was photographed waving something on her wrist. Given Montecito's relatively small size and limited office buildings or staircases, the coincidence was hard to ignore.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry found himself once again fighting for state-sponsored protection due to his decision to leave the UK. He had been stripped of his HRH status and various privileges, including police escorts. On December 5th, Harry's legal representative presented the case to London's High Court, claiming that he had been subjected to unfair treatment by the British government. Harry's attorney, Shahed Fatima, argued that the case was about the right to personal security and safety, a right of paramount importance to any individual.
In response, the government's legal representative, James Edy, maintained that Harry had been given special consideration and would receive security when necessary during visits to Great Britain. Edy clarified that Harry's treatment would not be the same as if he were residing in the UK full-time.
Meghan, during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, had revealed that Archie's welfare was one of the reasons for their move to California. She explained that they didn't know the gender of their child at the time, so they referred to the baby as "Archie." Meghan also discussed how there were concerns about Archie not receiving a royal title and the associated security because of his place in the line of succession. This created a different reality for Archie compared to Prince William's children in terms of security.
Meghan emphasized that they hadn't created a media frenzy around them intentionally, but it had still resulted in a need for their son's safety.
