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Meghan Markle's attempt to control how she and Prince Harry were photographed in the United States has lost relevance, according to veteran paparazzo Mark Karloff, who says interest in the couple has significantly declined since their high-profile move in 2020.
Speaking to Techreport, Karloff, who has spent nearly two decades in the celebrity photography industry, described the frenzy that followed the couple's relocation to California. "When Harry and Meghan first came here, it was a mad scramble to find where they were staying, where they were going to be living, and it was every photographer in LA trying to find out every secret," Karloff said.
He added that the Sussexes contributed to that media frenzy by appearing to coordinate photo opportunities early on. "At the same time, they were running around doing mock photo ops, they were doing setups, they would pop up and be doing some charity work, and I think it was their photographers, so everyone was very frustrated," he said.
Public interest cools, and photographers back off
While initial demand for candid photos of the royals was intense, Karloff says that's no longer the case.
"In the US, and in my experience, it has died down a lot. Now they aren't worth the hassle, and the payday isn't the same; people don't care as much as they used to," he explained.
The photographer noted that professionals have shifted from chasing the couple daily to waiting passively for public sightings. "Ultimately, they can't hide forever, so there are opportunities to get them, but I think they want control, Meghan especially," Karloff said.
According to The Post, Markle and Harry were involved in several staged appearances in Los Angeles, using their own photographers in an apparent effort to control their image. In 2020, Karloff had estimated that the first clear photograph of the couple at their Montecito home could fetch as much as $100,000.
The Sussexes drew attention again in May 2023 during a reported "near catastrophic" car chase with paparazzi in Manhattan. While their account described a dangerous pursuit, law enforcement sources downplayed the severity, indicating the chase lasted about an hour and included a cab switch. The NYPD has since promised increased security for the couple during visits to New York.
Just last week, Markle arrived at a Broadway show in Times Square flanked by a four-car motorcade and NYPD escort - a far cry from the chaotic early days of their U.S. arrival.