MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR OF CLOSER
The publication of pictures of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge topless has understandably caused outrage around the world.
Royal couple file criminal complaint over topless pictures
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are today due to file a criminal complaint over the topless photographs taken of Kate during her stay in a French chateau.
The royal couple have instructed lawyers to ask for tough action against the French magazine at a Paris court hearing, which is expected to take place this evening. They will also ask France’s criminal prosecutors to consider charging the French magazine’s editor and publisher, as well as the photographer.
A palace spokeswoman explained: 'The complaint concerns the taking of photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge whilst on holiday and the publication of those photographs in breach of their privacy.'
The pictures were published last Friday during Kate and William’s Diamond Jubilee tour of the South Pacific.
And, last week, Kate showed why she is making such a great impact on the world stage as she continued her royal engagements with dignity and poise, despite the media storm around her.
“As the owners of the Closer brand and publishers of Closer magazine, we have complained in the strongest terms to the licensee of Closer France, over the publication by them of photographs of their Royal Highnesses, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge."
After St James’s Palace issued a strongly worded statement expressing how “hugely saddened” they had been by the “invasion of privacy,” the couple continued their tour with a visit to the Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s largest place of worship. William and Kate – who removed her shoes and covered her head with a veil – enjoyed a guided tour by the imam, Ustaz Saiful.
Yesterday, the couple were given a huge welcome from 70,000 well wishers as they visited the Solomon Islands. Kate was given the honour of becoming an Island Princess and was crowned with a floral headdress.
The couple watched a tribal war dance performance by local warriors and met with the Solomon Islands' Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, and his cabinet. The Royal couple were presented with two traditional necklaces made of tiny coloured sea shells woven together.
Today they fly to the island of Tavanipupu and will have a private night together before continuing the last few days of the tour.
It is believed that more than 200 pictures were taken of Kate sunbathing during her stay in the Luberon region of France.
Since the publication of the pictures in Closer France last Friday, a small number of newspapers and magazines in the US, Ireland and Italy have, or are planning to, publish the photographs – but no magazine or newspaper in the UK has published them.
Statement from Paul Keenan, Chief Executive of Bauer Media, in connection with the publication by Closer France of pictures of Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge.
“As the owners of the Closer brand and publishers of Closer magazine, we have complained in the strongest terms to the licensee of Closer France, over the publication by them of photographs of their Royal Highnesses, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
We deplore the publication of these intrusive and offensive pictures and have asked that Closer France takes these pictures down immediately from its website and desist from publishing any further pictures.
Bauer Media and Closer UK regards publication of these photographs as a gross intrusion of their Royal Highnesses’ privacy.
We were not aware in advance of the purchase of these photographs or of any intention to publish. We have absolutely no control over the editorial decisions of Closer France.
In the light of their publication, we are now urgently discussing this matter with our licensee and reviewing the terms of our licence agreement with Closer France.
Like our readers, we are appalled and regret the pain the publication of these photographs has caused."