Prince William & Girlfriend Kate Middleton Chased By Paparazzi Photographers - Echoes Of Diana Crash
Prince William and on off girlfriend Kate Middleton were chased in their car by paparazzi photographers on Friday morning. The pair were leaving Boujis nightclub in London when the photographers saw their chance to grab the first picture of the pair together again after they got back together.
The couple had allowed themselves to photographed as they left the club, both looking relaxed and happy. But when the couple drove away in their Range Rover, a number of paparazzi photographers chased them in cars, on motorcycles and on foot.
It seems inconceivable that this would happen in the same week that the Princess Diana inquest began. The crash that killed the Princess as well as boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul is thought to be partly because the couple were trying to speed away from the pack of chasing paparazzi.
Have the photographers and the press at large not learned a thing in the intervening ten years?
The Evening Standard newspaper ran with the pictures taken at the time of the chase, but its sister papers The Daily Mail as well as the Daily Mirror both refrained from using these aggressively taken shots. That’s something at least.
Now a Tory MP is calling for safeguards to be put in place to ensure the paparazzi does not harass members of the Royal Family. John Whittingdale said the Press Complaints Commission must make it “absolutely clear” that photos of the couple should not be obtained by harassment.
I have to agree, but maybe it shouldn’t be limited to just royals? Is it fair for any person, famous, in the public eye, well connected or otherwise to be harassed for the sake of journalism? What do you think?
Princess Diana, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Paparazzi, Diana Inquest, Range Rover, London, UK, Dodi Fayed, Henri Paul
October 7th, 2007 at 11:24 am
It this behavior was done by anyone other than people flashing press credentials this would be called “stalking” which is illegal in the United States. Some celebrities here has gone so far as to obtain restraining orders, on certain individuals. I think it is reasonable to put limits on the amount of time photographers can spend, without the subject’s permission, in obtaining shots. If a celebirty allows unscheduled shots taken entering or leaving a venue, that should be the end of it. Likewise, chasing behavior in cars should be prohibited and a limit set for the length back photographer’s cars should follow. Also, photographers should be registered and licensed by the government. In the United States, in Los Angeles, you need to be registered with the police to follow celebrities, but that is the only place I know of.
Restrictive? Maybe, but even celebrities has the right to have a life.
October 8th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
[...] Whether Paparazzi photographers should be licensed or not Gossiping: Pete Doherty’s alleged suicide attempt over Kate [...]
October 11th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Ugh, I hate the obsession with celebrities. Honestly, I can understand interest, but blegh, am I the only one who gets kinda sick of hearing about the celebrity-paparazzi war?