Prince William and Kate Middleton were “dangerously” and “aggressively” pursued in their car by the paparazzi last night, according to Clarence House.

The pair were photographed as they left the Boujis nightclub in West London at 2am this morning. Clarence House has taken the step of publishing a damning statement tonight, in which a series of claims are made against the photographers.

Paddy Harverson, a spokesman for Prince Charles and his sons, said Prince William was worried about the potentially dangerous and “threatening behaviour” of the paparazzi.

“Having already been photographed leaving the club, he and Kate Middleton were then pursued in his car by photographers on motorcycles, in vehicles and on foot,” Mr Harverson said.

“The aggressive pursuit was potentially dangerous and worrying for them. It seems incomprehensible, particularly at this time, that this behaviour is still going on.”

The statement appears to draw parallels between the behaviour of photographers in London last night and the circumstances that surrounded the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, which are being examined at an inquest this week.

Diana, 36, and Dodi Fayed, 42, were killed with chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997. They had been followed by photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Fayed's apartment.

A report into her death by Lord Stevens in 2006 concluded that Mr Paul was not "blinded" by a flashlight just before the crash, but he was critical of the photographers who were following the car at speeds of up to 100mph.

Mr Paul was found to be at least twice the British drink-drive limit and had taken medication that evening.

CCTV footage shown at the inquest at the High Court yesterday showed the crowds of paparazzi outside the Ritz Hotel, from where the Princess set out on her final journey.

William was reportedly annoyed and concerned by media interest in his relationship with Miss Middleton last night.

The images taken of the couple were the first to show them out together since they split up in April. They got back together soon after and had managed to keep a low profile up until now.

Miss Middleton, who met William at St Andrews University, was in the Royal box for the Prince’s concert at Wembley in memory of his mother in July, but sat apart from the second in line to the throne.

The Press Complaints Commission has been made aware of the matter by Clarence House.

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