British Royals Get Tough With Paparazzi

LONDON, Dec. 7, 2009 — -- After years of running from the flash bulbs with a stiff upper lip, the British royals are baring their teeth, turning and fighting the paparazzi.

"In my view, my personal view, it's time they reined them in," said Arthur Edwards, the royal photographer for The Sun newspaper. Edwards, an elderly gentleman photographer, likes to distance himself from the paparazzi mob that tries to catch Prince Harry falling out of night clubs or Prince William getting fresh with his girlfriend Kate Middleton.

According to a royal spokesman, "They recognize there is a public interest in them and what they do, but they do not think this extends to photographing the private activities of them and their friends."

Royal aides sent letters to newspapers back in September asking them to respect the privacy of royals when they're on private land.

When Christmas rolls around the Royals decamp to their country estate. In years gone by they've been snapped over the holidays by paparazzi using long lenses and trespassing on private land.

At Christmas the royals like to wear a lot of tweed and shoot small animals. Photographs of them doing just that aren't great for public relations.

But they just can't win. The get-tough policy is fuelling rumors about what's really going on behind closed royal doors.

"I think it is more to do with Prince William and Kate Middleton," said Edwards. "And probably an announcement coming next year of their engagement."

Are they laying the ground rules for a royal wedding?

Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty Magazine said, "They know there is going to be such a media frenzy because we have been waiting for this for so long."