Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have criticised photographers after two men were seen around the school attended by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Their spokesman described the alleged behaviour as an 'extraordinarily reckless' intrusion into the children's privacy.
The incident comes as the Sussexes face renewed scrutiny over their security arrangements following their return to Britain. It also brings attention to a separate school visit by Harry in Birmingham, where a pupil was apparently heard complaining about the number of cameras present, saying there were 'six cameras in my face'.
Police are investigating the two men seen near Archie and Lilibet's school. One has reportedly been identified as an international press photographer, while a white van used by the pair was traced to a rental booking.
Men Seen Around Archie And Lilibet's School
The two men were reportedly seen carrying backpacks and walking around the school perimeter before stopping at various points to look into the grounds. ITV News reported that they were observed by school staff and the family's private security team.
The men later returned to a white van, which police established was a rental vehicle. BBC News reported that officers identified the driving licence used for the booking and found it belonged to an international photographer. Police have not publicly established what the men intended to photograph or whether both were working for a media organisation.
ITV also reported claims that the men were seen 'scouting out' the school, with one source saying they had been in the area for several hours. That account has not been independently established by police.
The Sussexes' spokesman described the behaviour as an 'unacceptable intrusion' and said there was a distinction between legitimate media activity and photographers monitoring a school.
The school and police force investigating the incident have not been publicly identified.
Birmingham Pupil Heard Complaining About Cameras
The separate Birmingham incident took place during Harry's visit to Ninestiles School on 18 September, where he was promoting INSPIRE, an education programme linked to the 2027 Invictus Games.
Footage from the visit circulated online, with a pupil apparently heard saying there were 'six cameras in my face'. Other clips from the visit also circulated, but the footage does not establish that filming breached school rules or that students had not consented to being recorded.
Six cameras. In a classroom. Pointed at teenagers.
— Queer Lips of Truth II 🇸🇱🇬🇧 (@QLoTII) September 27, 2026
That is what Prince Harry brought to Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham last week for a visit that was, on paper, a good idea: Invictus, prosthetics, engineering, a carbon-fibre leg on the table, the sort of thing that can… pic.twitter.com/faaozSF62V
The Birmingham visit involved different circumstances and took place before the latest incident at Archie and Lilibet's school. There is no evidence linking the pupil's complaint to the photographers later seen near the Sussexes' children.
Children Had Already Changed Schools
Archie and Lilibet had already been moved from their first British school after only two days of the new term because of security concerns about their journey to and from the premises.
ITV reported that the family's security team was concerned about traffic leaving the Sussexes' vehicle separated from its security car during the regular school run. The children had been attending their replacement school for about two weeks when the two men were spotted.
Police enquiries into the school incident remain ongoing and no charges have been announced.
