TORONTO -- Despite their long lens, visiting paparazzi have had difficulty snapping photographs of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in their new home on Vancouver Island due, in part, to the reluctance of water taxi owners to transport them.
Island Water Taxi owner Reg Kirkham said he鈥檚 refused several requests from members of the media in recent weeks who wished to tour the area for a glimpse of the royal couple.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just not believers in invading people鈥檚 privacy, especially Harry and Meghan and what they鈥檙e going through,鈥� he told CTV News Channel on Friday. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 need to be bothered.鈥�
Kirkham, who operates his private charter in the Gulf Islands, which is located between Vancouver Island and mainland B.C., said he鈥檚 not the only one turning down potential customers out of respect for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex鈥檚 privacy.
鈥淚鈥檝e had other business fellows who charter boats who have had calls also, and we aren鈥檛 available,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a very small-type community so we don鈥檛 like strangers just hanging out in bushes with cameras and stuff like that.鈥�
Kirkham, who lives in the small seaside town of Sidney, B.C. on Vancouver Island, described the area鈥檚 residents as tight-knit, but considerate of each other鈥檚 space.
鈥淲e鈥檙e one of the most beautiful places in the world. We鈥檙e safe and we鈥檙e quiet and we just do our own thing,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e have a very high-profile wealthy neighbourhood with multi-billionaire islands and all these things, but we all just work together to look after each other.鈥�
Prince Harry, Meghan and their baby Archie have been temporarily living at a luxurious waterfront mansion in North Saanich since December when they opted to spend the holidays there instead of in England with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family.
In early January, the couple came under intense media scrutiny with reporters from around the world descending on Vancouver Island in the wake of the couple鈥檚 bombshell announcement they would be stepping back from official royal duties and splitting their time in Canada and the U.K.
Kirkham said it鈥檚 been a 鈥渂usy time鈥� in the area for everyone because of their new famous neighbours.
Anne Girling, a resident on the island, said she met the Duchess of Sussex while she was out jogging on a nature trail and they wished each other 鈥淕ood morning.鈥� She said she鈥檚 opposed to the intense intrusions by the media.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 like it. Leave them in peace,鈥� she told AFP in January.
Another resident, Sue Starkey, said she鈥檚 鈥減roud鈥� that her neighbourhood has been respectful of the royals鈥� privacy.
鈥淚'm really happy they're here and I hope they can find some peace,鈥� she told AFP.
While Kirkham said he has a relative who 鈥渂umped鈥� into Meghan while on a walk in the neighbourhood, he said he hasn鈥檛 spotted the royals himself and he doesn鈥檛 have any plans to try to catch a glimpse of them, either.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 even driven through the neighborhood because I鈥檝e been here 45 years. I know the neighbourhood. I鈥檓 not looking for that type of excitement,鈥� he said.
With files from Agence France-Presse
