Grotesque! Palace attacks French magazine for printing topless photos of Kate and pleads: Don't make her a new Diana

There is mounting fear among royal aides that the Duchess faces being relentlessly stalked like the Princess of Wales
A strongly worded Palace statement compared the photographs to the ‘worst excesses of the Press and paparazzi during the life of Diana’
It is the first time in modern history that a British royal is set to sue through the courts in France for ‘breach of privacy’

PUBLISHED: 16:08 EST, 14 September 2012 | UPDATED: 16:17 EST, 14 September 2012

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began legal proceedings last night against a French magazine which published topless photographs of Kate.

As sources close to the couple said she felt ‘violated’ by the pictures, there was mounting fear among royal aides that the Duchess faces being relentlessly stalked like the Princess of Wales.

A strongly worded Palace statement compared the photographs to the ‘worst excesses of the Press and paparazzi during the life of Diana’.

Upset: As sources close to the couple said Kate felt ‘violated’ by the pictures, there was mounting fear among royal aides that the Duchess, right, faces being relentlessly stalked like the Princess of Wales, left

Angry: The Royal couple learned of the existence of the pictures - which show Kate removing her bikini top - while in Malaysia continuing their Diamond Jubilee tour. An image from the magazine's website is pictured

It is the first time in modern history that a British royal is set to sue through the courts in France for ‘breach of privacy’ over what the couple described as a ‘grotesque’ and ‘unjustifiable’ act.

Yesterday the 30-year-old Duchess tried to mask her humiliation as she followed in the footsteps of her husband’s late mother by visiting a mosque for the first time in bare feet and a veil.

She and Prince William learned of the existence of the pictures – which show Kate removing her bikini top as she sunbathed by a pool during a holiday in France last week – while in Malaysia continuing their Diamond Jubilee tour.

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The Prince told those close to him that it was ‘as if the clock had been turned back 15 years’ to when his mother died in a Paris car crash while being chased by photographers.

The Mail has learned that legal papers have already been served on the French magazine Closer and an initial hearing will be heard in the French courts on Monday.

If the judge decides the couple have a strong enough case to proceed they will immediately seek an injunction to stop all photos from the holiday being published. It is also hoped that it will emerge at the hearing who took and who owns the copyright to the pictures.

Legal action: It is the first time in modern history that a British royal is set to sue through the courts in France for 'breach of privacy' over what the couple described as a 'grotesque' and 'unjustifiable' act

The show must go on: The Royal couple looked pensive at a tea party in Kuala Lumpur yesterday

Last night the magazine’s editor Laurence Pieau was unrepentant about the pictures, apparently taken from 1,000 yards away with a long-distance lens. She insisted that the swimming pool was in full view of a public road and the images were ‘not in the least shocking’.

She even argued that it was the couple’s own fault as ‘they were not making any special effort to conceal themselves’ and made claims about having ‘more intimate shots’ of the couple.

The Mail understands the Duke and Duchess have the unequivocal backing of both the Queen and Prince Charles for their legal action.

A St James’s Palace spokesman last night confirmed that ‘legal proceedings for breach of privacy have been commenced today in France by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge against the Publishers of Closer Magazine France’.

Secluded: The pictures were allegedly taken last week, while the couple were on holiday at Chateau d'Autet, set amid 640 acres of woodland in the picturesque Luberon region

French retreat: The explicit photographs were taken last week as the Duke and Duchess holidayed at a secluded Provence chateau, pictured, owned by the Queen's nephew, Viscount Linley

Controversial: This picture is believed to show where the photographer would have taken the topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge

X marks the spot: The long lens pictures taken of the topless Duchess were shot from the side of the road between trees around half a mile away from the chateau

The explicit photographs were taken last week as the Duke and Duchess holidayed at a secluded Provence chateau owned by the Queen’s nephew, Viscount Linley.

Closer, one of the biggest celebrity glossy magazines in the country, which is unconnected to the British publication of the same name, yesterday splashed them across several pages including a topless picture of the Duchess on its front page, accompanied by the headline, in English: ‘Oh My God!’

The timing of their publication could not have been worse, coming so soon after naked photographs of Prince Harry were published on the internet.

Firm: Last night the editor of Closer , Laurence Pieau, pictured, was unrepentant about the pictures

Duty: The 30-year-old Duchess tried to mask her humiliation as she followed in the footsteps of her husband's late mother by visiting a mosque for the first time in bare feet and a veil

Moving on: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wave to the public during a walk through a central city park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday

When Kate saw the pictures she was said to be ‘angry, upset and disgusted in equal measure’ while William ‘was just livid’.

The couple later issued one of the most strongly worded statements ever issued by St James’s Palace.

A source close to both William and Kate told the Mail last night: ‘The words in their statement were very much chosen by the couple and them alone.

'Grotesque, unjustifiable, saddened – they are all words that come from the heart.’

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Now the Palace remembers Diana??? How about on the anniversary of her death? I don't agree with what the photographer did, but Kate should have known better. She is a public figure and in the public eye, like it or not. And this is a path SHE CHOSE. How stupid must she be to think photographers won't try to get a million dollar pic.

- Savina , Leguna Beach, 15/9/2012 01:16

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Problem is Kate Middleton would absolutely love to be like Diana, you can see it in the way she conducts herself, it is very false.

- lenarussky , Bedford, United Kingdom, 15/9/2012 01:15

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Seen the pictures and they are definitely intrusive, don't have to be a member of the royal family to be upset by how invasive they are.

- Bjern , Dublin, 15/9/2012 01:14

Click to rate Rating 8

Your comments:Well I do so agree.. Sue this french lot.....after seeing where kate was sun bathing AND where the photogher was position...this was an invasion of privacy....plus can understand how William feels....as I agree the french Paps killed his mother...plus all of you that have red arrowed etc just look at the distance from Photog to where she was sunbathing....If you do not agree....let me know and I will arrange for someone to photo you from same distance...so you will know how it feels

- beth1946 , cambridge, United Kingdom, 15/9/2012 01:11

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all this anti-French talk is shocking, Kate is the one who took off her top, why should the French nation as a whole suffer the consequences?

- lily , UK, 15/9/2012 01:08

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I was under the impression that after Princess Diana's death that a number of laws were put in place to prevent this type of this happening?

- Mrs Wright , Australia, 15/9/2012 01:07

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She should wear her hair tied up more often. It looks beautiful, and really suits her.

- Caryl , Hamilton, 15/9/2012 00:57

Click to rate Rating 16

That French Laurence woman, the editor, how would she feel if it were her, or her daughter? There is no sense of morality for some, money breeds such vile people. Only lurkers and perverts would pursue such pictures, I have no desire to see the Duchess undressed. Whatever you think of her, whether you are a Royalist or not, everyone should agree this is a breach of someone`s privacy. She chose to undress in a walled envIronment, with her husband WHILST ON A PRIVATE HOLIDAY. She had no idea a lens was on her from 1000 yards away. That would freak me out. Hang your head in shame French editor. You are from the gutter.

- Mom , West Mids, 15/9/2012 00:57

Click to rate Rating 30

She is a public figure she's stupid to have done this. Please do not use tax payers money of the UK to sue the french!!

- jajabing , surrey, 15/9/2012 00:52

Click to rate Rating 7

This is horrific! I feel awful for Kate. Regardless of whether she should have or shouldn't have been topless, Kate's human rights have been completely taken away from her. She never consented to those pictures! If some creep took a picture of you topless without your consent, you'd be humiliated, never mind that they are publicised for all to see. No one should be allowed to take a picture of you in any form of undress without your permission. This is a basic human right. Hold your head high Kate,you've done nothing wrong!

- Geena G , Formerly of Belfast, 15/9/2012 00:51

Click to rate Rating 26

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