Duke and Duchess of Sussex slam "extraordinary recklessness" over photographer near children's school

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have criticised an international photographer for what they describe as an extraordinary and unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of their children after two men were seen loitering near the school attended by Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The men, both carrying backpacks, were observed circling the perimeter of the school grounds and pausing at various points to look inside. Police later identified one of the pair as an international press photographer, believed to work for a known European news agency.

A spokesman for Prince Harry and Meghan said the conduct amounted to an irresponsible and ill-considered way of behaving in the vicinity of a school, stressing there is a clear difference between legitimate media activity and photographers monitoring children as they go about their day.

"The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless," the spokesman said, adding that whatever images they may have been seeking, the outcome was "an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children."

BBC reporting indicates that the two men were seen by both private security personnel and school staff before they returned to a van, which police later established had been hired as a rental vehicle.

The incident comes as the family adjusts to life back in Britain. Harry, Meghan and their children returned to the UK last month after six years based in California. The children started school in the UK earlier this term, but moved to a different setting after only a few days when security concerns were raised about traffic during the school run.

The family's relocation has also reopened longstanding questions about the level of publicly funded protection they receive, a subject that has long been a source of friction for the Duke of Sussex.

Earlier this month, it emerged that the Sussexes are to have their security arrangements reviewed now that they are full-time residents in Britain rather than occasional visitors.

The committee responsible for overseeing the protection of senior royal figures and VIPs, known as Ravec, is expected to consider the risks the family faces at their new home as well as the kinds of trips they make — including regular travel routes and school runs.

Attention had been particularly focused on the issue since it was reported in August that the couple were moving back to the UK, and are thought to be basing themselves at a private property in the Cotswolds area. Their announcement was unexpected and prompted renewed speculation about how much police support the couple should command.

Insiders suggested that the decision to relocate prompted questions over their status and the security package that accompanies it. The review is expected to weigh the family's new circumstances, including their status as full-time residents and the increased attention that follows them.

Family life back in England has been visible in parts of the social media record. Meghan previously shared a glimpse of their life in the country on Instagram, posting an image of the couple walking along a country path while Lilibet rode a bicycle with Archie running ahead.

The Duke and Duchess have also been described as masters of surprise announcements, and their move generated a wide range of reaction — from questions about whether Harry's return could ease the long-running rift with his brother, the Prince of Wales, to speculation about the couple's finances and motivations for coming back.

Recent coverage has suggested the couple are exploring new professional ventures, with the BBC understanding that Meghan is in talks for a role in a Netflix series, The Gentlemen.

Beyond the security debate, the school incident illustrates a broader shift in the family's relationship with the British press. The Sussexes left the UK in 2020, and the years since have been marked by a series of high-profile legal actions, including challenges to the manner in which some stories were reported about them.

Whatever the legal outcomes, the tone of the response from the couple's office this week is notably direct, signalling that the family intends to draw a firm line around the safety and privacy of two young children who are among the most closely watched children in the public eye.

Archie and Lilibet's birthdays fall within the past year, and both children remain minors whose movements are closely guarded. Private security teams are believed to accompany them on school runs, working alongside police protection where it is authorised.

The episode also highlights the vulnerability of a family that has tried to shield its children from the scrutiny that comes with royal association — while also, at times, sharing selective glimpses of their lives with followers.

For now, the outcome of any investigation into the men seen at the school has not been detailed publicly. What is clear is that the Sussexes expect a clear distinction to be drawn between professional journalism, which comes with obligations around privacy of children, and behaviour they describe as reckless conduct outside a school boundary.

The timing is significant. With the family now settled in the Cotswolds and both children enrolled at a UK school, observers expect the question of security — both private and publicly funded — to remain a fixture of royal news coverage for months to come.