British royals warn newspapers

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has warned newspapers not to publish paparazzi pictures of the royal family, Buckingham Palace said yesterday, as the royals prepare for their Christmas break.

The sovereign's lawyers have contacted newspapers reminding them of privacy obligations under their own code of practice.

The royals traditionally spend their winter break at Queen Elizabeth's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. "There was a letter sent to all the editors, it was private and not for publication," a spokesman for the monarch's Buckingham Palace official residence said.

"It was in response to many years of the royal family being hounded by photographers on the queen's private property."

The letter was sent through lawyers six to eight weeks ago and covered all members of the royal family, the spokesman said.

Freelance photographers normally spend hours monitoring the area to get pictures of the family on the estate. However, this year photographers will be monitored on public roads around the estate.

Last Christmas at Sandringham, the queen's youngest son Prince Edward was accused of beating a dog after he was pictured waving a stick at two quarrelling gundogs.

Prince William, second in line to the throne, and his girlfriend Kate Middleton were pictured during a hunt. Paddy Harveson, spokesman for William's father Prince Charles, said: "Members of the royal family feel they have a right to privacy when they are going about everyday, private activities. They recognise there is a public interest in them and what they do, but they do not think this extends to photographing the private activities of them and their friends."

Prince William voiced concern in 2007 after Ms Middleton was hounded by the paparazzi outside her London home.

The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said legal action seemed far off, though might be taken if the monarch's appeal was ignored.