Prince William’s 2004 warning to photographers
Prince William reportedly issued a stark warning to photographers early in his relationship with Princess Catherine, telling them he would do anything to protect his family from intrusive media attention. The account is said to date back to 2004, shortly after the couple were photographed skiing together while Catherine was still William’s girlfriend.
According to Express, the warning was delivered during a press call arranged in Gloucestershire, when Prince William unexpectedly joined the photographers for a drink at the nearby Hare and Hounds Hotel before giving them what was described as a “dressing down” about their treatment of Catherine.
The report is attributed to a new biography, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, written by royal editor Mr Russell Myers. In the book, Myers cites former Daily Mirror chief photographer Mr Kent Gavin as recalling William’s remarks about photographs taken on the ski slopes, including: “That business on the slopes, totally uncalled for, don’t you think?”
Mr Gavin also recalled that William went further, warning: “There is absolutely nothing I would not do to protect my family or those close to me from those times, so we are not going back.” The exchange, he said, left photographers “pretty dumbfounded” but clear about the message, as William sought to avoid a repeat of the intense scrutiny faced by his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The recollection has resurfaced amid continuing public focus on how the Royal Family balances privacy and press access, with Prince William increasingly framing family life as his priority as he carries out his duties as Prince of Wales.
