Kate Middleton's Topless Photos Hurt Her & William More Than We Imagined
They may be rich, but hey, everyone could use some extra cash. Nearly five years after the publication of topless photos of Kate Middleton, the duke and duchess are seeking $1.9 million in damages. At the start of the trial on Tuesday, Prince William called the long lens photos "shocking" and a "painful" reminder of the harassment that ultimately led to Princess Diana's death in a prepared statement read by his lawyer.
"The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy," the statement said. William of course was talking about the photos that were taken of his wife sunbathing topless while they were on a private (or so they thought) vacation in Provence, France. "My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy," the duke added in his statement.
The French rag mag Closer initially published the photos, while the French newspaper La Provence published pics of Kate in her bikini from that same trip (not nearly as scandalous, but still invasive). Six people are now on trial for the publication of the photos, including Closer's editor-in-chief, as well as two photographers accused of taking the images.
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After the photos were published, a spokesperson for St. James Palace said, "The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to The Duke and Duchess for being so."
Ouch.
In addition to the $1.9 million, William and Kate are also seeking a "very significant fine" to be imposed on photos of this nature. The trial is only beginning, so we'll have to wait and see what happens. But regardless of the outcome, there's a good chance that sneaky photos of Kate won't be taken again for a long time.
Don't mess with the royals.