The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge publicly voiced their concerns about paparazzi "harassment" of their children and detailed the "disturbing" tactics used by some photographers in a letter sent to media by Kensington Palace on Friday morning.
Through their communications secretary, Jason Knauf, the royal couple thanked "reputable" British, Commonwealth, and American publications for complying with their requests not to publish unauthorised pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
The Cambridges are "glad that leaders in the media industry share the view that every child regardless of their future public role, deserves a safe, happy and private childhood".
However, they went on to detail the "extreme lengths to observe and monitor Prince George's movements and capture images of him to sell to the handful of international media titles still willing to pay for them".
One such incident detailed in the letter said a photographer camped in a rented car near a children's play area for a full day in an attempt to photograph Prince George:
One recent incident – just last week – was disturbing, but not at all uncommon. A photographer rented a car and parked in a discreet location outside a children's play area. Already concealed by darkened windows, he took the added step of hanging sheers inside the vehicle and created a hide stocked with food and drinks to get him through a full day of surveillance, waiting in hope to capture images of Prince George. Police discovered him laying down in the boot of the vehicle attempting to shoot photos with a long lens through a small gap in his hide.
The letter also included a bulleted list of recent occasions the couple's children had been harassed or placed under surveillance by photographers. One such method including utilising other children to tempt Prince George into view in play areas.
They claim photographers had:
* On multiple occasions used long range lenses to capture images of the Duchess of Cambridge playing with Prince George in a number of private parks
* Monitored the movements of Prince George and his nanny around London parks and Monitored the movements of other household staff
* Photographed the children of private individuals visiting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's home
* Pursued cars leaving family homes
* Used other children to draw Prince George into view around playgrounds
* Been found hiding on private property in fields and woodland locations around the duke and duchess's home in Norfolk
* Obscured themselves in sand dunes on a rural beach to take photos of Prince George playing with his grandmother
* Placed locations near the Middleton family home in Berkshire under steady surveillance
Kensington Palace tweeted to thank the public for their support over recent months, and emphasised that they would continue to share photos of their children.
The Duke and Duchess want to extend their thanks for the kind and supportive messages they have received in recent months.
They have been delighted to share photos of their children and will continue to do so in the months and years ahead.
Yet undercover paparazzi continue to pursue their children, selling images of Prince George to international publications.
Recently, the family released a number of photographs of their children taken by celebrated photographer Mario Testino.
