The Royal Family has voiced fears that press photographers are harassing members of Kate Middleton?s family in the run-up to her marriage to Prince William on 29 April.
Clarence House has issued a ?private advisory notice? to editors, via the UK?s press watchdog, confirming that it relates to ?harassment by agency photographers?.
The move comes amid reports that photographers on mopeds have pursued Kate Middleton?s mother and sister.
A spokesman for the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) told Amateur Photographer: ?This notice is part of a service devised and operated by the PCC ? sent to journalists, photographers and some broadcasters ? and available to any member of the public.?
The PCC declined to comment further, adding that the ?notice was clearly marked ?private and confidential: not for publication.?’
The PCC is a self-regulatory body. It’s Code of Conduct states that it is ‘unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent’ and that journalists ‘must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit’.
Last year the PCC told us that any concerns raised over alleged intrusion by photographers into the private lives of Kate Middleton and Prince William would be dealt with ‘effectively’.
Kate Middleton won thousands of pounds in out-of-court settlement over pictures of her playing tennis during a Christmas holiday in 2009.
A source close to the photographer said he had captured around 50 images using a Canon DSLR and 70-200mm zoom lens from an ‘elevated’ footpath.
In 2008, Kate and William reportedly considered legal action for harassment or invasion of privacy against photographers who pursued them ‘aggressively’ on motorbikes, scooters and in a car after they left Boujis nightclub in South Kensington, London.
An inquest into the death of William’s mother, Princess Diana, concluded that the grossly negligent driving of vehicles chasing the Mercedes in which she was a passenger contributed to the ‘unlawful killing’ of the Princess in Paris on 31 August 1997.
Around 8,000 journalists are expected to descend on London to cover the Royal Wedding.
