Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have described foreign paparazzi lurking outside their children's school as "extraordinarily reckless", a statement that draws rare agreement from royal commentators. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex expressed concerns over photographers scoping out the school, whether aiming to capture images of Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, in the playground or waiting to snap their parents at pick-up. Both scenarios are deemed unacceptable, and the young children have already been forced to change schools once over security worries.
Spokesperson hits out at 'irresponsible' photographers
In a statement, a spokesperson for the couple lashed out at the two photographers for being "irresponsible" and "an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children". They said: "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."
Police were investigating the incident, though they have refused to comment publicly. This feeds into critics' hands, as many claim the incident is a fabrication by the Sussexes to engineer what Harry has long sought: taxpayer-funded UK security. The King's youngest son continues to wait for the outcome of a recent meeting over whether his VIP protection will be reinstated.
Security details and ongoing wait
The couple has been asked to provide authorities with as much detail as possible about their new daily routines, including trips such as the school run, addresses they routinely visit, and routes they take. Until they find out whether their police protection will be reinstated, they will continue with their existing security team, which, being private hires, cannot carry guns or access state-level intelligence.
Princess Kate's visit and royal tour plans
Separately, the Princess of Wales showcased her interpersonal skills during a visit to a West Sussex town, surprising a 94-year-old by picking her up from her bungalow and later joining a weekly lunch club. Pictures captured her laughing with regular Lynda Jones, who said Catherine was "lovely, very natural", adding: "It's soup by royal appointment today!"
Fresh details of the King and Queen's autumn tour were revealed on Friday, marking their first trip since a successful US visit in the spring. Charles will undertake solo visits to The Bahamas and Guyana before Camilla joins him in Antigua and Barbuda for CHOGM 2026. The week-long trip will be the first time the King has visited the Caribbean since 2021, when he travelled to Barbados to see the country remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.
Prince George will have spent the weekend back home with his family after completing his first month at Eton College. The school offers several 'Short Leave' breaks during the school year, during which boys are sent home for the weekend. George's younger siblings are likely excited to have him home and keen to learn about his new school.
Meanwhile, the new YouTube show and podcast Royals Unscripted launched on Thursday morning, with episodes going live at 7am every Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
