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Prince George 'harassment' warning to photographer | Prince George 'harassment' warning to photographer |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lawyers for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked a photographer to "cease harassing" Prince George and his nanny. | Lawyers for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked a photographer to "cease harassing" Prince George and his nanny. |
A Kensington Palace statement said they were prompted to take action after the man was spotted near the 14-month-old in a central London park. | A Kensington Palace statement said they were prompted to take action after the man was spotted near the 14-month-old in a central London park. |
It said: "No parent would tolerate the suspicion of someone pursuing and harassing their child and carer." | It said: "No parent would tolerate the suspicion of someone pursuing and harassing their child and carer." |
The couple are not taking legal action at this stage. | The couple are not taking legal action at this stage. |
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said palace officials believe the photographer's actions amounted to "stalking" and that lawyers were seeking an assurance he would desist. | |
"If they do not receive these assurances that this behaviour will stop, they will then consider options of legal action," he said. | |
Our correspondent added that the man had been warned off last week by royal protection officers and that he had also been spoken to "over a number of years" about his behaviour. | |
Analysis | |
By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | |
There is a low-level battle between the royals and the media who are bound together in a complex symbiotic relationship. | |
The one side needs coverage of what they do and wants to exercise control; the other seeks greater access and better pictures. | |
In this latest incident, the focus is less on the individual's job as a photographer and more on what the royals see as his actions - pursuit, surveillance and harassment. | |
Not for the first time, Prince William is attempting to draw a line and establish what is, in his view, beyond the pale. | |
There is a global market for unauthorised photographs of Prince George. | |
William can't close down such a market, but he can go after one of the suppliers of these images. | |
He is taking such action and he will go to court, if necessary, so that the toddler future king can play untroubled in a public park. | |
'Ordinary life' | 'Ordinary life' |
The palace statement added: "There is reason to suspect that the individual may have been placing Prince George under surveillance and monitoring his daily routines for a period of time. | The palace statement added: "There is reason to suspect that the individual may have been placing Prince George under surveillance and monitoring his daily routines for a period of time. |
"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." | "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." |
Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo was named as the prince's nanny in March when the palace appealed for her privacy to be respected. | Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo was named as the prince's nanny in March when the palace appealed for her privacy to be respected. |
Since his birth in July 2013, the royal couple have posed for a number of official photographs with Prince George. | |
He has also been pictured accompanying his parents on state visits and with the palace's consent at other events. | He has also been pictured accompanying his parents on state visits and with the palace's consent at other events. |
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) editors' code of practice states that young children "must not be interviewed or photographed on issues involving their own or another child's welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents". | The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) editors' code of practice states that young children "must not be interviewed or photographed on issues involving their own or another child's welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents". |
IPSO replaced the defunct Press Complaints Commission last month. | IPSO replaced the defunct Press Complaints Commission last month. |
Before the royal couple married, the Middleton family raised privacy concerns about alleged harassment by press agency photographers. | |
And in 2012, lawyers for the pair also took action against French gossip magazine Closer for publishing topless photos of the duchess. |