B.C. privacy commissioner suggests media civility for Prince Harry and Meghan

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s privacy commissioner says the media should practice self-regulation when it comes to respecting the privacy rights of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Michael McEvoy says press freedoms are vast in Canada, but he suggests the media exercise civility as the royal couple takes up residence near Victoria.

Lawyers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly sent a letter to the British press threatening legal action after Meghan and her young son Archie were photographed walking in a public park north of Victoria.

Media lawyer Dan Burnett says the couple’s expectation of privacy in Canada would depend on the situation and a claim by the media that photos were taken in a public place may not be enough, especially if children are involved or pictures were taken surreptitiously. 

Burnett says court claims in B.C. for breach of privacy are based on whether reasonable expectations of privacy are violated.

However, Alfred Hermida, a journalism professor at the University of British Columbia who worked as a reporter in the U.K., says the royal couple are hot news and they should expect to be making headlines when they step out in public.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2020.

The Canadian Press