Prince Harry has issued a stern rebuke after two international photographers were spotted walking around the perimeter of his children’s school in the United Kingdom.

A spokesman for the Prince on Wednesday called the photographers’ behaviour “extraordinarily reckless” and an “unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children”.

The two men, believed to be from a European press agency, were seen separately and together on Monday walking around the school grounds where Prince Archie (5) and Princess Lilibet (3) are pupils. School staff and the family’s private security team observed the photographers stopping at various points to look into the grounds and monitor the children.

Police later checked a white rental van the men had returned to. The vehicle reservation was reportedly linked to an international photographer.

‘World of difference’ between legitimate media and school monitoring

“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 spokesman said.

The spokesman added the incident was particularly concerning as it happened “so soon after the incident at RAF Fairford”, describing it as “an extraordinary lack of judgment” and “an irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school”.

Last weekend, five British men in their twenties were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. They were later released on bail while investigations continue.

Family moved back to UK in August

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved back to Britain at the end of August with their two children after living in California since March 2020. The children initially attended a different British school but were moved after two days because of security and commuting concerns.

The spokesman said it was “concerning” that “certain European paparazzi appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school”.

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British media exercise restraint on school details

The school’s name and location have not been published. British media have not published photographs from the incident after the Sussexes requested privacy through the UK press regulator IPSO regarding the children’s school and family home.

Earlier this month, schools in the area where the family lives circulated privacy guidance to parents, asking them not to photograph or film other children without permission and not to share photographs or information about pupils on social media.

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