The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accused an international photographer of "extraordinary recklessness" after two men were seen circling the perimeter of the school attended by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Police were called and later identified one of the men as an international press photographer. The incident has heightened concerns about the privacy and safety of the young royals since the family's return to the UK.

A spokesman for Prince Harry and Meghan described the actions as an "unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children" and an "irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school." Both private security and school staff observed the men looking into the school grounds before returning to a rental van.

The Sussexes' spokesman emphasized the significant difference between legitimate media activity and "photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day." This incident follows a period of adjustment for the children's schooling in the UK, with a change of school occurring shortly after they began in September due to security concerns related to traffic.

Harry and Meghan, along with their children, returned to the UK last month after residing in California for six years. Their relocation has brought renewed attention to the level of their publicly funded security.

Reports earlier this month indicated that the committee overseeing royal and VIP security, known as Ravec, is set to review the couple's security arrangements. This reassessment is prompted by their full-time residency in Britain, with Ravec expected to consider potential risks and the family's travel patterns, including school runs.

The family had initially planned to settle in a private property in the Cotswolds area. Prince Harry has previously expressed frustration regarding the extent of their publicly funded security in Britain.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing challenges the Sussexes face in balancing their public profile with the desire for privacy for their young family in their new UK home.