Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been offered advice on how to increase security around their children's school after two international paparazzi were spotted nearby. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement following the incident outside Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's new school.
The two men, carrying backpacks, were reportedly seen by private security and school staff walking the perimeter of the school earlier this week. The couple described the incident as "extraordinarily reckless" and an "unacceptable intrusion" into their privacy.
Secrecy may fuel paparazzi interest
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes the couple's decision to keep their children's identities hidden could be encouraging photographers. Bond suggested that the secrecy surrounding seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet may increase the desperation of paparazzi to obtain pictures of them.
Meghan occasionally shares glimpses of the children on her social media, but their faces are always obscured, either by camera angles or emojis. According to Bond, this approach could be a driving force behind invasive photographers.
Follow the Waleses' strategy
"But I think part of the problem is that Meghan and Harry have inadvertently put a price on the value of the first clear photo of their children," Jennie told the Mirror.
"Meghan has teased us all with multiple pictures of Archie and Lilibet in which their faces are deliberately obscured. And that has spawned more curiosity about them — and upped the reward for any pap who can get a face-on shot."
Bond advised Harry and Meghan to follow the example of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who regularly release portraits of their children on special occasions. "Better by far is the strategy adopted by William and Catherine who have regularly released charming portraits of their children on special occasions. We have been able to watch them grow from afar; press and public interest in them has been satisfied. And the value of any snatched photos has been negated. Perhaps the Sussexes should now follow that example."
