Harry and Meghan blast 'unacceptable intrusion' after photographers spotted outside children's school

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hit out at “unacceptable intrusion” into their private lives after international paparazzi were spotted scouting out their children’s school.

Harry and Meghan said the behaviour by members of the international press was “extraordinarily reckless”.

The couple, who are no longer working royals, moved back to Britain in August after living in North America for a number of years.

They asked for their privacy to be respected by the public and media after enrolling their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a school outside London in September.

The children were moved quickly to a different school following security concerns.

It was outside their new school that photographers were seen.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were enrolled in a school in England in September

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Two young men carrying backpacks are understood to have been seen by both private security and school staff walking the perimeter of Archie and Lilibet’s school, stopping at various points and looking into the grounds.

They were initially seen separately and were subsequently observed together before returning to a white van.

Police established it was a rental vehicle and later worked out they were international photographers.

A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said press photographers behaving in such a manner so soon after the RAF Fairford incident at the weekend, in which five men from London were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorism act, demonstrated an "extraordinary lack of judgement”.

“The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless.

“It is concerning that certain European paparazzi appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school.”

Duke and Duchess of Sussex spokesman

“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.

“It is concerning enough that certain European paparazzi appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school.”

The spokesman added: “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.”

Prince Harry told broadcasters this week that his two children were “happy” at their new school.

Speaking to CTV News in Canada after a charity skydive, the prince said it was “great to be back on British soil”.

He added: “The kids are happy in school, and it gives me a chance to be able to really focus on the Invictus Games.”

Harry and Meghan are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security. The prince, who is fifth in line to the throne, has been in a long-running battle with the Home Office after it scaled back security arrangements following his decision in 2020 to step back from working royal duties.

The Sussexes pulled Archie and Lillibet, known as Lili, out of their first-choice British school in September after just two days when heavy traffic in the area meant their private security team struggled to stay in a convoy during the school run.

The youngsters are believed to have been at their new school for around two weeks.

Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a crash after her car, driven at speed by a drunk chauffeur, was chased through the streets of Paris by the paparazzi.