“It is clear that while paparazzi are always keen to capture images of any senior member of the Royal Family, Prince George is now their number one target”, Knauf’s letter read.
Advertisement
But, he said, “paparazzi photographers are going to increasingly extreme lengths to observe and monitor Prince George’s movements and covertly capture images of him to sell to the handful of worldwide media titles still willing to pay for them”.
In a letter issued today (Friday), the palace said photographers were using surveillance techniques to try to get pictures of the young royals.
The man “parked in a discreet location outside a children’s play area”.
The letter reveals that paparazzi have been found hiding on private fields and woodland at the family’s Norfolk home, obscuring themselves in sand dunes to take photographs of Prince George playing with his grandmother and monitoring the movements of the toddler, his nanny and other household staff around London parks.
The palace says it presents a risk “in a heightened security environment”.
The palace said a small number of organisations, mostly in Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand and the US had published photos of Prince George in “unacceptable circumstances”.
The letter said that, like most parents, the couple enjoyed sharing photos of their children, but added that every parent would object to anyone – particularly strangers – taking photos of their children without permission.
It’s not the first time the palace has pleaded, on behalf of George’s parents, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for their children to be allowed as normal – and safe – a childhood as possible.
“The vast majority of publications around the world – and all British publications – have refused to fuel the market for such photos”, the statement said. But they feel strongly that both Prince George and Princess Charlotte should not grow up exclusively behind palace gates and in walled gardens.
They said cars leaving the family’s homes had been followed and other children had even been used to lure the young prince into the view of photographers while playing in playgrounds.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a strong warning to paparazzi to stop harassing their children.
The statement adds that it is raising the concern to raise “public discussion” on the photography of children.
“The use of these photos is usually dressed up with fun, positive language about the “cute, ‘ ‘adorable” photos and happy write-ups about the family”.
Kate and William are imploring worldwide media publications not to buy these ill-gotten images, as readers deserve to understand the tactics deployed to obtain these pictures.
Advertisement
Royal insiders say the Duke in particular is desperate that “history should not repeat itself” and wants to protect his children from the kind of intrusion that his mother Diana, Princess of Wales was subjected to.
