The Subtle Ways Prince Harry Has Shielded Meghan Markle From Paparazzi

Prince Harry has been guarding Meghan Markle, a move that was said to have been made in order to shield the former “Suits” actress from the paparazzi.

Photographers have previously noticed that the Duke of Sussex had repeatedly made it impossible for them to secure solo pictures of Markle by being with her all the time, Express reported. Shutterstock photographer Tim Rooke, who has been capturing photos of the British clan over the past two decades, noted how the couple is obviously in a loving relationship, so much so that it became difficult to photograph the duchess alone.

“Ms. Markle and Prince Harry are very much in love, in fact, it’s hard for me to capture a picture of them each alone because they always either locked in each other's gazes or joined hands,” Rooke told InStyle, adding that photographers usually need to take fashion shots of Markle in different occasions.

Given that Markle is always seen locking hands with Prince Harry, it was quite hard for them to secure a perfect shot without needing to crop out his hand. Despite this, Rooke, whom the Duke of Sussex fondly calls “Rookie,” said he has never seen anyone as affectionate as the couple – not even Prince William and Kate Middleton.

This overprotective approach of Prince Harry with Markle reportedly heightened when she became pregnant with their first bundle of joy, Archie Harrison. According to a 2018 Vanity Fair report, those who are close to the sixth in line to the throne claimed he is persistent in protecting the former actress from being too exposed to the media.

“[Harry] worries there is too much hysteria around Meghan, and he wants to row back a bit,” royal expert Katie Nicholl said to the outlet at the time.

Prince Harry’s dislike of the British press is well-known, and his disdain apparently stemmed from his mother Princess Diana’s death in 1997. The Princess of Wales was being chased by the paparazzi when she met a fatal accident in Paris.

Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Markle took action against several tabloids and outlets, saying they will not be dealing with them anymore.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know - as well as complete strangers - have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue," the statement read.