Meghan Markle and Prince Harry slammed photographers who were spotted outside their kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s school in the UK, calling their actions “extraordinarily reckless.”
“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,” a spokesman for the Sussexes told Page Six in a statement on Wednesday.
The spokesperson said it’s “concerning” that members of the European paparazzi “appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school.”
“But to behave in this manner in these particular circumstances, and so soon after the incident at RAF Fairford, demonstrates an extraordinary lack of judgment,” the spokesman went on.
The statement 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.”
Page Six can confirm that two young men were spotted by private security and school staff walking the perimeter of Archie and Lilibet’s school.
The men, who were both carrying backpacks, were initially seen separately before they both returned to a white van, which police established was a rental vehicle.
Archie and Lilibet’s school is also attended by number of American children whose families are connected to a nearby US military installation at an RAF base.
After the Sussexes moved back to the UK in August, they enrolled their kids in a ritzy $35K-a-year prep school.
However, the couple pulled Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, from the school after two two days due to a security risk.
Heavy traffic to and from the school was straining their small security team, according to Hello! magazine
“The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” a rep for the couple told the outlet earlier this month.
An insider also told the outlet that Harry, 42, and Markle, 45, had security checks completed at the school before the term but were unable to test the school run.
“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents,” the source said.
Harry and Markle dealt with more security issues when the former “Suits” star’s personal phone number was reportedly leakedafter joining a WhatsApp group for parents of the school.
Following an interaction between Markle and two moms in the group chat, the conversation, which included Markle’s phone number, was screenshotted by someone in the group. It was shared multiple times following the leak.
Last week, Harry confirmed his kids “are happy in school” in an interview with CTV.
“It’s been great to be back on British soil,” the “Spare” author added.
The Sussexes are still fighting to receive taxpayer-funded security despite not being working royal.
Earlier this month, the couple, who resigned from their royal duties in 2020, were granted a security review in light of their move back to England and were asked to provide details of their everyday routines, including school runs.
As King Charles III made clear, Markle and Harry are living in the UK as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
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