The new school-related issue facing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Just over a month after returning to the UK, the Sussexes have reported the presence of photographers near their children's school.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK has once again placed their family in the spotlight—this time due to an incident directly involving their children's safety.
Two men carrying backpacks were spotted in the vicinity of the school attended by Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. According to various media reports, the individuals walked along the perimeter of the school grounds. Additionally, at several points, they stopped to look inside the facility.
The family's security team and school staff detected the men's presence. Subsequently, both men headed toward a white van, which—according to published reports—was a rental vehicle. A police investigation reportedly established that at least one of them worked as a photographer for a European press agency.
Meghan and Harry allege invasion of their children's privacy due to paparazzi presence
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement. It highlighted the distinction between legitimate journalism and the presence of photographers around a school.
"It is deeply concerning that certain European paparazzi seem unwilling to respect children's privacy at school," noted the representative for Harry and Meghan. They added that "the photographers' decision to behave this way in the immediate vicinity of a school is extraordinarily reckless."
The spokesperson affirmed that while Meghan and Harry respect journalistic work, they condemn such intrusions—specifically, loitering around a school to observe what is happening inside. “There is a vast difference between legitimate journalistic activity and photographers roaming the perimeter of a school,” the spokesperson stated.
The family views the situation as particularly sensitive because it involves an educational facility attended by minors—a location kept confidential precisely for security reasons.
The Sussexes’ previous issue with their children’s first school in the UK
The incident comes just weeks after Archie and Lilibet left the first school chosen for them following the family's return to British soil.
The children attended that school for only two days before being moved to another. The decision to leave was driven by safety concerns regarding their commute, particularly due to local traffic conditions.
To date, the location of Archie and Lilibet’s new school has not been publicly disclosed, a measure taken to protect the children's daily routine. Reports indicate that the British media has refrained from revealing both the school's location and the family's home address.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle insist on police security for themselves and their children
This new complaint from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry comes at a particularly sensitive time for them. In late August, the Sussexes returned to the UK after six years of living in California.
Since stepping back from frontline Royal Family duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have lost their entitlement to government-provided (police) security and have relied on private security instead. The issue with private security in England is that personnel are not permitted to carry firearms, which could limit their effectiveness in certain dangerous situations.
The protection of the Prince and his family on British soil remains under review by the relevant authorities, who are assessing whether the Sussexes might qualify for government-provided security now that they are residing in the country. Prince Harry says his children are happy at their new school.
Despite the difficulties surrounding the return to school, Harry had recently offered a positive update on how his children were settling in.
In an interview with the Canadian network CTV, the Duke of Sussex stated that Archie and Lilibet were happy at their new school and that the situation allowed them to focus on family activities.
However, this latest incident once again places the children's privacy at the center of public attention and poses another challenge for Harry and Meghan as they try to establish a more private life for their children in the United Kingdom.
The Sussexes have insisted on keeping secret the details that would identify the school and their residence, while authorities and their private security team continue to assess the measures needed to protect Archie and Lilibet's routine.
