Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take action over Prince George ‘surveillance’

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent a legal letter alleging harassment by a journalist, saying they suspected Prince George had been put “under surveillance”.

Their legal letter has been sent to a freelance photographer, who the royals believe have been monitoring Prince George when he has been on walks in London parks with his nanny. Lawyers for the royal couple have also written to a second photographer in relation to Prince George.

The Duke and Duchess moved to take action after one of the photographers attempted to take pictures of Prince George in Battersea Park last week. Continue...

“The Duke and Duchess have taken legal steps to ask that an individual ceases harassing and following both Prince George and his nanny as they go about their ordinary daily lives,” said a spokeswoman for the Duke and Duchess.

“An incident last week has prompted their royal highnesses to seek reasonable assurances from the individual about his behaviour. The individual was spotted at a central London park in the vicinity of Prince George, who was removed from the park immediately.

“There is reason to suspect that the individual may been placing Prince George under surveillance and monitoring his daily routines for a period of time.”

The royal couple took action because of a “unreasonable” pattern of behaviour allegedly displayed by the individual, a freelancer, described as tantamount to following the 14-month-old prince and his nanny around.

Royal aides were keen to stress that this was not an attack on press freedom, but was a request to the individual to cease and desist harassment of George and his nanny.

It is understood that unauthorised pictures of George have been syndicated outside the UK.

A senior royal source said that the individual has already been spoken to by protection officers about his behaviour in respect of members of the royal family on previous occasions over the last five years.

The source added: “Just like any parent, The Duke and Duchess want Prince George to have the freedom to safely experience normal childhood activities, like going to the park and playing with other children, without the threat of harassment or being placed under surveillance.”

A spokeswoman for Kensington Palace said that the duke and duchess want Prince George to lead an “ordinary life” while he is young.

“The Duke and Duchess understand the particular public role that Prince George will one day inherit but while he is young, he must be permitted to lead as ordinary a life as possible,” she said. “No parent would tolerate the suspicion of someone pursuing and harassing their child and carer whilst their child is playing in a public park or going about their daily activities.”