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LONDON - On Tuesday morning, there were more than two dozen photographers outside the home of Kate Middleton's, waiting for her to emerge to travel to work on her 25th birthday.
Yesterday, there were only two such paparazzi, accompanied by a small crowd of reporters waiting to see exactly how many photographers would arrive.
The drop in the number of photographers suggested the media had responded to the plea on Tuesday from Clarence House for them to stop harassing the girlfriend of Prince William.
Lawyers for Ms Middleton have also written to newspapers reminding them of the Press Complaints Commission's code of conduct on privacy.
Some restraint was evident across the coverage in yesterday morning's newspapers, with only the Daily Star using a photograph by a recognised paparazzi agency, Solarpix.
The BBC also removed a series of paparazzi-style pictures of Ms Middleton from its website.
Increasing media attention has been focussed on Ms Middleton, an accessories buyer at fashion chain Jigsaw, amid speculation her engagement to the Prince, also 25, was imminent.
They have been an item for three years.
Clarence House yesterday expressed quiet satisfaction at the media backing off, but appeared to deliberately avoid any sense of triumphalism.
A spokesman said: 'It is good to hear the number of photographers is much reduced. We hope the coverage will convince people to leave her alone."
However, the spokesman said that Clarence House was realistic enough to accept that the situation was open to change.
Amid considerable debate over what exactly constitutes a 'paparazzi' photograph or the difference between public and private, Clarence House made it clear it considered anything involving Ms Middleton's personal life, such as her home, work or shopping, was out of bounds, while accepting that visits to parties or nightclubs could not always be seen in the same fashion.
Some newspapers yesterday used photographs taken on Tuesday outside Ms Middleton's home, in circumstances which Clarence House would consider private.
The Daily Mail said its pictures were taken by the Press Association, AP and 'the respected Getty Images' - although the latter also specialises in 'snatched' paparazzi style shots, as well as more staged celebrity pictures.
The Daily Express also said its pictures were by the 'respected Press Association.' Both have said they will not violate Ms Middleton's privacy.
The Times also used a Press Association picture, while the Sun used a file picture taken at Prince William's passing out ceremony at Sandhurst; both are part of News International, which has said it will not use 'paparazzi' style pictures.
A spokeswoman for the Press Association said they had attended Ms Middleton's home for the first time on Tuesday, 'because it was an exceptional event.'
She added "We knew that one of the big stories of the day would be the relationship between Ms Middleton and the media and felt this warranted coverage.'
PA would not attend again unless there was an event of similar importance, 'such as a Royal engagement,' said the spokeswoman.
One of the photographers outside Ms Middleton's home yesterday worked for WENN, a celebrity agency which proudly boasts on its website: "We deliver the paparazzi-style pix so favoured by publications around the world."
Owen Beiny, its director of operations, said they had been outside her house every day for the past month or so.
"We have not received any lawyers letters and we are not doing anything illegal."
His photographers kept a physical distance from their subjects 'except outside nightclubs, obviously' and he condemned individual freelances who 'got in the face' of Ms Middleton.
One such photographer was herself pictured yesterday with her camera only a foot or so away from Ms Middleton's face.
Adding a note of conspiracy he said: " The curious thing is no-one knows who that photographer is and she was the only one behaving like that. It wouldn't surprise me if someone in the PR department at Buckingham Palace had put her up to it."
Mr Beiny was in no doubt that Ms Middleton would remain the focus of attention, one likely to continue up to and past any Royal engagement: "What has happened does not change things. She is the next big thing."
- INDEPENDENT
