In a recent turn of events, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was spotted at a farmer's market in Montecito, California. The images of the Duchess, casually enjoying local delicacies and purchasing a bouquet of fresh flowers, were captured by photographer Jill Ishkanian and published in the Daily Mail on July 15. However, contrary to the speculation that the Duchess might have staged the outing for media attention, Ishkanian insists it was a mere coincidence.
Ishkanian, who was at the market on Friday, July 14, stated that she had no prior knowledge of the Duchess's presence. She was there on one of her routine trips to Montecito, where her mother resides. The photographer was actually trying to capture images of Katy Perry's father when she stumbled upon the Duchess at the flower market.
The Duchess, who was accompanied by one of her dogs and a security guard, has previously expressed her displeasure with the paparazzi's intrusion into her private life. She and her husband, Prince Harry, have even taken legal action against Splash News and Pictures for unauthorized photos of the Duchess and their son, Prince Archie, taken at a public park in Canada in 2019.
Addressing the speculation that the Duchess might have tipped her off, Ishkanian told Newsweek, "She absolutely does not. No one calls me, trust me. I have absolutely no support, I do everything by myself." She further explained that Montecito is a small place and it's not hard to run into someone if you're around.
Ishkanian used her phone, not a long-lens camera, to take the photos. She believes that the Duchess didn't realize she was a paparazzo because of this. "Everyone talks about equal rights and I'll tell you what, I have even more power as a woman than a male paparazzi because they don't think I'm anything," she said.
This was the fourth time Ishkanian had photographed the Duchess since 2021. However, she noted a different vibe from the Duchess this time. "The way she looked at me, it was just different than the other times. She just seemed like she'd been humbled a bit or brought down a peg a bit," she said.
The photographer also praised the Duchess for her kindness towards the vendors at the market. She added that she is warming up to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they showed up at their local Fourth of July parade, which she said no celebrities ever support. They are the first celebrities to ever do so, according to Ishkanian.
In conclusion, the recent images of Meghan Markle at the farmer's market were not a staged media event, but a simple coincidence. The Duchess continues to live her life in Montecito, occasionally crossing paths with locals and photographers alike.
