Prince Harry has won a privacy complaint against Mail Online over long-range photos of him on a private Jamaican beach.
The website ran the photos of Harry with girlfriend Meghan Markle under the headline: “Time to cool off! Happy (and hunky) Prince Harry enjoys a dip in the ocean as he and Meghan relax on the beach in Jamaica after his ‘wingman’s’ sun-drenched wedding”.
The photos included ones of him wearing swimming shorts on the beach, at a beachside bar and in the sea.
The prince complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), which upheld the complaint.
Mail Online said it had been told the photos were taken on a public beach.
They also disputed they had taken too long to respond to the prince’s complaint, saying they had to establish the facts with the American photographer before acting.
In in its ruling, Ipso said Harry was photographed without his knowledge and was “not carrying out official duties” at the time.
“The committee did not accept that the complainant could have been seen by members of the public outside the resort at this distance,” Ipso said.
“The images, which had been taken without consent, showed the complainant wearing swimwear and engaging in private leisure activities in circumstances in which he had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
“Photographing an individual in such circumstances is unacceptable, unless it can be justified in the public interest.”
Prince Harry also complained the Mail Online article was inaccurate but Ipso did not uphold this.