Long-lens shots of the Duchess, taken while she and the Duke of Cambridge were beside a private swimming pool during a holiday in Provence last week, are due to appear in Closer magazine today.
The Duke and Duchess were told about the pictures during breakfast as they prepared for the fourth day of their tour of the Far East, and were said to be “saddened” that their privacy had been breached.
Palace officials are expected to contact lawyers in France this morning and will consider all options available to them once they have had a chance to verify that the pictures are genuine.
The Duke’s mother was killed in August 1997 when her car crashed in Paris as it was being pursued by paparazzi photographers, and the fact that Palace sources alluded to the Princess’s death showed the depth of their anger at the controversy, which threatens to overshadow the couple’s foreign tour.
A Royal source said: “This is disappointing, saddening and turns the clock back 15 years. We have always maintained the position that the Duke and Duchess deserve their privacy, not least when they are on holiday in their own swimming pool.” » | Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter, Kuala Lumpur | Friday, September 14, 2012
THE GUARDIAN: Duchess of Cambridge 'saddened' by topless photos claim: Closer magazine says it has pictures of Kate topless taken during a brief holiday with William in Provence last week » | Press Association | Friday, September 14, 2012
BBC: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge furious over topless photos » | Friday, September 14, 2012
LE POINT: Des clichés de Kate Middleton topless font scandale au Royaume-Uni : Le magazine "Closer" publie des photos de l'épouse du prince William seins nus lors de vacances en Provence. » | SOURCE AFP | vendredi 14 septembre 2012
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Zeitschrift veröffentlicht Oben-ohne-Fotos von Kate: Ein französisches Magazin hat Oben-ohne-Fotos der Herzogin von Cambridge veröffentlicht - und bewirbt damit offensiv seine aktuelle Ausgabe. Das Königshaus kritisiert dies scharf und kann auf Zurückhaltung britischer Medien hoffen. » | ulz/siu | Freitag, 14. September 2012
