Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have condemned the conduct of an international photographer who was reportedly seen looking into the grounds of their children’s school, describing the incident as an unacceptable intrusion into their privacy.
Two men carrying backpacks were spotted by private security personnel and school staff walking around the perimeter of the school on Monday morning.
The men reportedly stopped at different points to look into the school grounds before returning to a van, which police later established was a rental vehicle.
One of the men was subsequently identified as a photographer working for a European press agency.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan described the photograph conduct as “extraordinarily reckless”.
“The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless,” the spokesperson said.
“There is a world of difference between legitimate media activity and photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day.”
The spokesperson said the incident amounted to an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children.
“Whatever photographs they may have been seeking, this was not only an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children; it was an irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school,” the spokesperson said.
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Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, began attending school in the UK in September following the family’s return from California.
The children changed schools after only a few days following security concerns linked to traffic during the school run.
Harry and Meghan returned to the UK last month after living in California for about six years.
Their return has renewed questions over the level of security available to the couple and their children in Britain.
Earlier this month, it emerged that the committee responsible for overseeing security arrangements for senior royals and other VIPs, known as Ravec, would review the couple’s publicly funded security.
The review is expected to consider the risks facing the family at their new home and during regular journeys, including school runs and other trips.
The issue of security has remained a longstanding concern for Harry, particularly since he and Meghan stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020 and moved to the United States.
The latest incident has again placed the privacy and security of their children at the center of attention following the family’s return to the UK.
BBC News
