Are the media permitted to publish photographs taken from a public thoroughfare or in some other public space?
The publication of photographs of members of the Royal House in private situations is subject to certain legal constraints.
The infringement on the subjects’ private lives that would result from the publication of personal photos is only justifiable if the photos contribute to public debate on matters of public interest. There is no other valid argument for publication.
Under previous judicial rulings, the fact that the photos may have been taken from a public thoroughfare or some other public space (e.g. a restaurant) is not relevant.
Arguments voiced by certain segments of the media that a photo is ‘newsworthy’ or ‘innocent’ are not legal grounds for infringing on the subjects’ private lives. The only meaningful argument is that the photo contributes to public debate on a matter of public interest.