The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a difficult journey establishing their privacy with paparazzi over the years, something Kate had to grapple with from the very start of her relationship with her now-husband.
The royal couple met at the University of St Andrews more than 20 years ago in 2001 and went public with their relationship in 2004. After a few years of dating the future King, the then-Kate Middleton quickly learned that the relationship came with intense public scrutiny, including the constant challenge of maintaining her privacy in a world of press and photographers eager to capture William’s new girlfriend.
Kate’s struggles with the paparazzi
In his book William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, royal author Russell Myers detailed one particularly distressing incident involving photographers, which occurred shortly after Kate began working as an accessories buyer for fashion brand Jigsaw.
While William was away in Devon working as a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Regiment, Kate was immersing herself in life in the capital. However, no matter where she went, whether to work or to bars and clubs in the West End, she was relentlessly followed by cameras.
Not even “the threat of legal action could discourage unwanted attention”, according to Russell.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetWhat happened on Kate’s birthday?
On 9 January 2007, Kate’s 25th birthday, Russell described how she was met with “a scrum of more than 20 press photographers and five television crews” as she exited her flat.
He continued: “The resulting footage made for uncomfortable viewing. Amid the dizzying flashes of photographers’ cameras, some sprinting across the road to get in front of her, some almost stumbling over each other, Catherine struggled to get to her navy Volkswagen Polo, before the media continued to take pictures through the windows of her car as it sped away.”
William’s reaction
Shaken by the incident, Kate rang William “in floods of tears”. Russell continued: “A source close to the couple said the situation and resulting conversation was ‘incredibly distressing for both of them’, adding, ‘She [Catherine] said, ‘I can’t do this any more.'”
While William had lived with press intrusion for much of his life, he was deeply concerned about its effect on those closest to him.
© POOL/AFP via Getty Images“For the prince, as for many casual observers, this specific pursuit was an unwelcome echo of the time when Princess Diana had been constantly hounded, with the press wildly out of control,” wrote Russell.
At the time, William issued a statement through the Palace which read: “Prince William is very unhappy at the paparazzi harassment of his girlfriend. He wants more than anything for it to stop. Miss Middleton should, like any other private individual, be able to go about her everyday business without this kind of intrusion. The situation is proving unbearable for all those concerned.”
Prince William and Princess Kate’s battle for privacy
William has continued to push back against press intrusion over the years and appeared to reflect on its impact during an appearance on Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ show in October 2025. Speaking to the American actor, William said: “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better. That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past, that Harry and I had to grow up with – and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
He continued: “Growing up, I saw that with my parents. And if you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family. And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is and those who overstep it, you know I’ll fight against.”
© Apple TV+In October last year, William and Kate also successfully sued French magazine Paris Match after it published long-lens photographs of their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, taken during the family’s Easter holiday in the French Alps.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said at the time: “The ruling affirms that, notwithstanding their public duties as members of The Royal Family, Their Royal Highnesses and their children are entitled to respect for their private lives and family time, without unlawful interference and intrusion.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales are committed to protecting their private family time and ensuring that their children can grow up without undue scrutiny and interference. They will not hesitate to take such action as is necessary to enforce those boundaries.”
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