Kate Middleton Topless Photo Scandal: Royals File Lawsuit Against Tabloid

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decide to go after the French magazine that published the controversial pics

By Peter Gicas Sep 14, 2012 5:20 PMTags
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of CambridgeMark Large - Pool/Getty Images

Kate Middleton and Prince William are taking action. As in, legal action.

In the wake of a French tabloid's decision to publish topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge while she privately sunbathed with her husband during a recent vacation in Provence, the royal couple has decided to file a lawsuit.

"St. James's Palace confirms 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," a royal spokesman said in a statement to E! News.

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The decision comes just hours after St. James Palace told us that "officials acting on behalf of Their Royal Highnesses are consulting with lawyers to consider what options may be available to the Duke and Duchess."

The royal family stated that it considers the images to be a "grotesque" invasion of privacy and it recalls "the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana."

Meanwhile, the editor of Closer is defending the decision to run the pics.

"These photos are not in the least shocking," editor Laurence Pieau told AFP. "They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches."

Of course, not all those millions of women are the Duchess of Cambridge.