Prince Harry, who has long been one of the British royal family’s most outspoken critics of media intrusion and paparazzi culture, shared an unexpected compliment for photographers during a surprise appearance at the TIME100 Sports Gala in New York City on Thursday.
As the Duke of Sussex paused to pose for pictures on the red carpet, photographers politely called for his attention, with one addressing him as “Mr. Duke of Sussex, Sir.” Another photographer praised a colleague in an effort to get Harry to look in her direction.
Clearly amused by the interaction, the 41-year-old royal smiled and told the group, “You are the most polite set of photographers I’ve ever met in my life,” before giving them a thumbs-up and continuing into the event.
The exchange was particularly striking given Harry’s well-documented criticism of the press. Over the years, he has repeatedly condemned intrusive media practices and blamed aggressive paparazzi tactics for contributing to the circumstances surrounding the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
In the 2017 BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, Harry recalled witnessing the relentless pursuit of Diana by photographers during his childhood. He described one incident in which she became so overwhelmed by the constant chase that she stopped the car to confront photographers before returning in tears.
Reflecting on Diana’s death in Paris in 1997, Harry said one of the most painful realities was that photographers who pursued her car continued taking pictures after the crash while she was still fighting for her life.
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