Prince William and Kate Middleton Will Feel Great Sympathy Over Sussex School Incident, Royal Expert Claims

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, may sympathise with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following reports that photographers were seen looking into the grounds of their children's school, royal commentator Lynn Carratt has suggested.

The alleged incident, which reportedly involved two international photographers, has renewed concerns about the privacy of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said two international photographers had allegedly been seen looking into the grounds of their children's school. According to the spokesperson, the couple's security personnel believed the individuals were working together and recorded the vehicle's registration number. The vehicle was reportedly a rental car.

The spokesperson described the photographers as 'extraordinarily reckless' and called the alleged incident an 'unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children.' The circumstances have not been independently verified, and the allegations should not be presented as established fact.

Why William and Kate May Sympathise

Royal commentator Lynn Carratt, identified in the original report as being associated with E20 Communications, suggested the alleged incident could be a situation in which the Prince and Princess of Wales might understand the Sussexes' concerns.

She drew a comparison with Catherine's experience of media intrusion in 2012, when photographs of her sunbathing topless in France were published.

'This latest incident involving photographers allegedly looking into the grounds of Archie and Lilibet's school could be one of those rare situations where William and Kate completely understand how Harry and Meghan are feeling,' Carratt said.

She added that William and Catherine have long been 'fiercely protective' of their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and have maintained a clear boundary between public duties and family life.

'So I would imagine there will be a great deal of sympathy for Harry and Meghan over what has reportedly happened at Archie and Lilibet's school,' she said.

The suggestion is notable given the widely reported tensions between the two couples. However, the alleged incident does not establish whether William and Catherine have contacted Harry and Meghan or how they privately feel about the matter.

The 2012 Privacy Case

The publication of the photographs prompted legal action in France and drew criticism over the invasion of the couple's privacy. While many UK newspapers did not publish the topless images, the French magazine Closer did, prompting proceedings under French privacy law.

In September 2017, a French court ruled that the publication of topless photographs of Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, taken during a private holiday in France in 2012, violated the couple's privacy. The court ordered Closer to pay Prince William and Catherine €100,000 (£87,000) in damages.

The magazine's editor, Laurence Pieau, and publisher's chief executive, Ernesto Mauri, were each fined €45,000 (£39,000), the maximum penalty available for the offence. Two photographers were also convicted and fined. The ruling was upheld on appeal in 2018.

The circumstances are different: the Sussexes' spokesperson alleges that photographers looked into the grounds of a school attended by the couple's children, whereas the 2012 case concerned photographs taken during a private holiday.

The French proceedings demonstrate that privacy protections and legal remedies can apply to the taking or publication of photographs, depending on the circumstances and the jurisdiction. Whether any law or editorial code has been breached in the alleged school incident has not been established.

What Happens Next

Carratt suggested that William and Catherine might contact Harry and Meghan privately, while cautioning that such a gesture would not necessarily resolve the difficulties between the brothers.

'We obviously don't know whether that will happen, and I wouldn't suggest this incident alone is suddenly going to repair years of difficulties between the brothers,' she said.

There is no confirmation that any such contact has taken place. The alleged incident has renewed attention on the privacy of royal children and the challenges of protecting them from unwanted media attention.

However, the available information does not establish whether the reported incident will have any effect on relations between the two couples.