• World
  • celebrities

Prince George is Being Hounded by Paparazzi, Complains William and Kate

3 minute read

Kensington Palace, the residence and office of Prince William and Princess Kate, has written to the media urging them not to publish images taken by paparazzi photographers, who have been taking “increasingly extreme lengths” to get pictures of Prince George.

The letter, written by William and Kate’s communications secretary, says a “line has been crossed” by the paparazzi over the last couple of months. Their tactics have become dangerous and “represent a very real security risk” for the two-year-old prince.

Photographers’ behaviour have caused the William and Kate to be “concerned about their ability to provide a childhood for Prince George and Princess Charlotte that is free from harassment and surveillance.”

The statement also referred to an incident where a photographer parked outside a children’s play area and lay in the trunk in the hope of capturing a picture of the young prince:

A photographer rented a car and parked in a discreet location outside a children’s play area. Already concealed by darkened windows, he took the added step of hanging sheets inside the vehicle and created a hide stocked with food and drinks to get him through a full day of surveillance, waiting in hope to capture images of Prince George. Police discovered him lying down in the boot of the vehicle attempting to shoot photos with a long lens through a small gap in his hide. It is of course upsetting that such tactics – reminiscent as they are of past surveillance by groups intent on doing more than capturing images – are being deployed to profit from the image of a two-year old boy.

Kensington Palace also said that in recent months photographers have:

  • Used long range lenses to capture images of Kate playing with Prince George in a number of private parks
  • Monitored Prince George and his nanny’s movements around London parks
  • The movements of their household staff were also monitored by photographers
  • Children of individuals visiting the home of William and Kate were photographed
  • Photographers followed cars leaving family homes
  • Other children were used around playgrounds to draw Prince George into view
  • Photographers have been found hiding in fields and woodland around the Duke and Duchess’s home in Norfolk
  • In order to take photos of Prince George playing with his grandmother, they hid among sand dunes on a beach.
  • Put the Middleton family home in Berkshire under surveillance
  • “In a heightened security environment such tactics are a risk to all involved. The worry is that it will not always be possible to quickly distinguish between someone taking photos and someone intending to do more immediate harm,” read the statement.

    The palace said that pictures taken in “unacceptable circumstances” have been used by organisations in the U.S., Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand.

    A Prince George Photo Album: See Will and Kate's Firstborn Grow Up

    Wedding Of Pippa Middleton And James Matthews
    Prince George, fourth left, stands with other flower boys and girls after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church onMay 20, 2017 in Englefield, England.Pool/Getty Images
    BRITAIN-ROYALS-PEOPLE-MIDDLETON-MARRIAGE
    Britain's Prince George (R) waves as he leaves in a car after attending the wedding of his aunt, Pippa Middleton (L), to James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, west of London, on May 20, 2017.TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)Justin Tallis—AFP/Getty Images
    2016 Royal Tour To Canada Of The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge - Victoria, British Columbia
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge wave to wellwishers as they depart Victoria on October 1, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Samir Hussein—Getty Images
    The Middleton Family Attend Church On Christmas Day
    Prince George of Cambridge attends a Christmas Day service at St. Marks Church in Englefield, England, on Dec. 25, 2016. Anwar Hussein—WireImage/Getty Images
    In this October handout image provided by Kensington Palace on Dec. 18, 2015, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a portrait with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
    In this October handout image provided by Kensington Palace on Dec. 18, 2015, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a portrait with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.Chris Jelf—PA Wire/Press Association Images
    Queen Elizabeth II with her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren in the Green Drawing Room, part of Windsor Castle's semi-State apartments in Windsor England. The children are: James, Viscount Severn, 8-years-old, left, and Lady Louise, 12-years-old, second left, the children of The Earl and Countess of Wessex; Mia Tindall, holding The Queen's handbag, the two year-old-daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall; Savannah 5-years-old, third right, and Isla Phillips, 3-years-old, right, daughters of The Queen's eldest grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn; Prince George, 2-years-old, second right, and in The Queen's arms and in the tradition of Royal portraiture, the youngest great-grandchild, Princess Charlotte, 11-months-old, children of Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge, April 20, 2016.
    Queen Elizabeth II with her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren. She holds Princess Charlotte in her arms in this April 2016 photo.Annie Leibovitz—AP
    The firstborn of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is a busy toddler. Now three years old, Prince George has been photographed doing everything from helping his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II mark her 90th birthday to meeting President Obama in a bathrobe. Here's a look back at some of his most memorable moments. Prince George with the family pet dog, Lupo, at his home in Norfolk, Britain, in mid-July. Kensington Palace released the image to mark his third birthday on July 22, 2016.
    The firstborn of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is a busy toddler. Now three years old, Prince George has been photographed doing everything from helping his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II mark her 90th birthday to meeting President Obama in a bathrobe. Here's a look back at some of his most memorable moments. Prince George with the family pet dog, Lupo, at his home in Norfolk, Britain, in mid-July. Kensington Palace released the image to mark his third birthday on July 22, 2016. Matt Porteous—Handout/Reuters
    Britain's Prince George points as he and his father, Prince William, look at a 'Squirrel' helicopter during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in western England on July 8, 2016.
    Britain's Prince George points as he and his father, Prince William, look at a 'Squirrel' helicopter during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in western England on July 8, 2016.Richard Pohle—Pool/AFP/Getty Images
    prince george robe sold out
    Prince George displays the robe from a rocking horse with the ease of a seasoned runway model as he meets the President and First Lady on April 22, 2016.The White House—Getty Images
    Prince George meets President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in April 2016. The robe that he wore later sold out.
    Prince George meets President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in April 2016. The robe that he wore later sold out.The White House—Getty Images
    Britain Queen's 90th
    In this image released by the Royal Mail on April 20, 2016, Britain's Prince George stands on foam blocks during a photo shoot in mid-2015 in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London, for a stamp sheet to mark the 90th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. He is photographed with Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and his father, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.Ranald Mackechnie/Royal Mail—AP
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break in the French Alps on March 3, 2016.
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break in the French Alps on March 3, 2016. John Stillwel—WPA Pool/Getty Images
    Prince George birthday
    Prince George with his father, the Duke of Cambridge, in the gardens at Sandringham House, Norfolk, England, on July 5, 2015. Mario Testino—AP
    Christening Princess Charlotte prince george
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn, England. Chris Jackson—Getty Images
    princess kate prince george
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge attend the Gigaset Charity Polo Match at the Beaufort Polo Club on June 14, 2015 in Tetbury, England.Max Mumby—Getty Images
    royal family prince george
    Britain's Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince Willian holding Prince George, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, June 13, 2015.Stefan Wermuth—Reuters
    Trooping The Colour prince george
    Prince George of Cambridge is held by his nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo as he waves from the window of Buckingham Palace as he watches the Trooping The Colour ceremony on June 13, 2015 in London.Chris Jackson—Getty Images
    Prince George birthday
    File photo dated May 2, 2015 of the Duke of Cambridge with his son Prince George as he arrives at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, after the birth of his newborn daughter Princess Charlotte.Anthony Devlin—AP
    prince george and princess charlotte
    Prince George and Princess CharlotteKensington Palace
    Britain's Prince George's first birthday at the Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London on July 2, 2014.
    Britain's Prince George's first birthday at the Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London on July 2, 2014.John Stillwell—AFP/Getty Images
    Prince George of Cambridge walks holding his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand as they watch Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry play in the Jerudong Trophy charity polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 15, 2014 in Cirencester, England.
    Prince George of Cambridge walks holding his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand as they watch Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry play in the Jerudong Trophy charity polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 15, 2014 in Cirencester, England. Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images
    Jerudong Park Trophy
    Prince George of Cambridge plays with a football whilst holding his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 15, 2014 in Cirencester, England.Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images
    From left: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge along with baby Prince George visit Taronga Zoo on April 20, 2014 in Sydney.
    From left: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge along with baby Prince George visit Taronga Zoo on April 20, 2014 in Sydney.Michael Dunlea—Barcroft Media/Landov
    Prince George
    Prince George of Cambridge, with his parents Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, receives a gift from the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, at Admiralty House, on April 16, 2014 in Sydney. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, the first official trip overseas with their son, Prince George of Cambridge.David Foote—Admiralty House/Getty Images
    Prince George
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, holds Prince George as they board a Royal Australian Airforce Jet heading to Sydney at an airport in Wellington, New Zealand, April 16, 2014. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Australia until April 25, 2014.Mark Coote—EPA
    Prince George
    Britain's Prince George, center, plays during a visit to Plunket, a nurse and parents group at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand April 9, 2014. Marty Melville—AP
    NZEALAND-BRITAIN-AUSTRALIA-ROYALS
    Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George during a Plunket nurse and parents group visit at Government House in Wellington United Kingdom on April 9, 2014. MARTY MELVILLE—AFP/Getty Images
    Prince George
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge arrive at Wellington Airport's military terminal for the start of their tour on April 7, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand. Samir Hussein—WireImage
    Prince George
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge pose for an official family portrait at Kensington Palace, ahead of their tour to Australia and New Zealand, with their pet dog Lupo on March 18, 2014 in London. Jason Bell—Camera Press via Getty Image
    Prince George Christening
    The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed at Clarence House in London on October 23, 2013. Prince George wears an outfit made of delicate Honiton lace and white satin - an exact replica of the one worn before him by every baby born to the British Royal family since 1841. Jason Bell—Camera Press/Redux
    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge With Their Son Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge In Bucklebury
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge pose for a photograph with their son, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge in the garden of the Middleton family home in August, 2013, in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Michael Middleton—Kensington Palace via Getty Images
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George, at St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013.
    Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George, at St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013.Dave J Hogan—Getty Images

    More Must-Reads from TIME

    Contact us at letters@time.com