Kate Middleton's 'Can't Do This' Plea Amid Paparazzi Hell

Royal author Russell Myers has detailed the significant paparazzi pressure Kate Middleton experienced before becoming Princess of Wales. Their relationship, which began at the University of St Andrews in 2001 and went public in 2004, quickly subjected Kate to intense public scrutiny.

In 2007, shortly after Kate began working for Jigsaw, she was relentlessly followed by cameras. On her 25th birthday, January 9, 2007, she was confronted by a large group of photographers and television crews as she left her flat, an event that deeply shaken her.

Distraught, Kate reportedly called Prince William, expressing her inability to cope with the intrusion. This situation was a painful reminder for William of the intense media hounding his mother, Princess Diana, had faced.

William issued a statement condemning the harassment, emphasizing Kate's right to privacy. He has since continued to advocate against intrusive press practices, vowing to protect his own family from similar experiences.

More recently, in October 2025, Prince William spoke about his determination to prevent a return to the intrusive media practices of the past. The Prince and Princess of Wales also successfully sued French magazine Paris Match last October for publishing long-lens photos of their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson affirmed the royal family's right to privacy, even with their public duties, and their commitment to protecting their children from undue scrutiny.