Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children were allegedly targeted by “certain European paparazzi” while attending school in the English countryside, their spokesperson claimed on Wednesday, calling the behaviour an “extraordinarily reckless” invasion of the children’s privacy.
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Harry, the younger son of King Charles, moved back to Britain last month with Meghan and their two children, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet. The couple has kept their new residence and the children’s school private.
According to their spokesperson, photographers had been seen around the perimeter of the children’s new school, stopping to examine the grounds and observe the students.
“The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson also said that while the British press had shown restraint since the family returned to Britain, “certain European paparazzi seem intent on invading the privacy of children at school.”
The family reportedly changed schools after concerns over the security of the children, with the road outside the previous school becoming too crowded, according to the spokesperson.
Harry has long been vocal about the media’s pursuit of his family. He has previously accused the press of contributing to the circumstances surrounding the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while her driver was being pursued by paparazzi.
Harry and Meghan stepped down as working members of the British royal family in 2020 and moved to the United States. They retain private security and have been involved in a long-running dispute over their access to publicly funded police protection in Britain.
Harry’s older brother, Prince William, has also faced unwanted attention from photographers over his children. He has previously taken legal action over photographs of members of his family.
The brothers’ relationship has been strained since Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals. Harry has discussed the family rift in interviews and in his memoir.
