Harry and Meghan Condemn ‘Extraordinary Recklessness’ After ‘European Paparazzi’ Caught Peering Into Children’s School

The Sussexes are declaring that their children — Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five — are the victims of extraordinary recklessness on school grounds at the hands of “certain European paparazzi” in a demonstration of the insatiable appetite of the press for Prince Harry and his family.On Wednesday, a spokesman for the prince decried “an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children” and declared that the “decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless.” The statement added, “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.”The Sussexes contend that “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.” The BBC reports that private security discovered two men wearing backpacks peering into school grounds before they returned to a rental vehicle. The Sussexes pulled their children from a previous school after two days, citing security concerns.The Sussexes’ statement also cites the “incident at RAF Fairford” — an alleged plot targeting a UK airbase that was thwarted on Sunday. The suspects have been released on bail after investigators failed to find explosives in their vehicle. President Trump characterized himself as “surprised” by that decision.The incident at the school appears likely to add to Prince Harry’s conviction that the British Home Office behaved recklessly when it withdrew security from him and Meghan Markle in 2020 after the two stepped back from being “working royals” and moved to Montecito, California. As part of that arrangement, brokered by Queen Elizabeth II and called the Sandringham Agreement after the royal estate, the Sussexes relinquished their “HRH” honorifics and royal patronages. They also forfeited comprehensive security.Prince Harry has sued — unsuccessfully — to restore that protection and has frequently cited the lack of such arrangements as an impediment to his moving back to Britain. In August, though, the duke and duchess shockingly declared that they were returning to the realm ruled by Prince Harry’s father, King Charles III. Reports indicate that they are living in the rural Cotswolds region, about two hours from London.Earlier this month, the king asserted in a letter that the Sussexes say “surprised” them that “their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” The Beeb reckons that the letter was “something of a shot across the bows,” making clear that any Prince Harry and Meghan visits should not be treated as royal engagements. The letter affirms that the Sandringham Agreement is still in effect.In January, Prince Harry took the stand during his invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail. He testified, “They have made my wife’s life an absolute misery, my Lord.” The prince, though, lost that suit — which he brought alongside other celebrities, including Elton John — on every count. In August, Prince Harry and his fellow litigants were ordered to pay $13 million in legal fees to Associated.Reports indicate that the body tasked with determining security arrangements — the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as “RAVEC” — will reconsider the status of the Sussexes now that they have moved back to Britain. Prince Harry, though, has called that committee an “establishment stitch-up” and related that his “jaw hit the floor” when he was informed that his father’s chief courtier, Sir Clive Alderton, sat on the committee.Prince Harry so despises Sir Clive that in his memoir, “Spare,” he refers to the king’s private secretary as “the Wasp” and counts him among a cabal of “usurpers” within Buckingham Palace. Sir Clive, though, intends to retire in March, which raises the possibility that future considerations of Prince Harry’s security status could be more favorable to the scion of the House of Windsor.The prince has linked his fear for the safety of his wife and children to the tragic death of his mother, Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. “I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces,” he proclaimed in a 2019 interview.

Harry and Meghan Condemn ‘Extraordinary Recklessness’ After ‘European Paparazzi’ Caught Peering Into Children’s School

Harry and Meghan Condemn ‘Extraordinary Recklessness’ After ‘European Paparazzi’ Caught Peering Into Children’s School

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