by CHRISTINE ABRAHAM Photographer
Prince William and wife Kate Middleton were in Southern France during their vacation where Middleton was photographed topless while sun bathing. During the second week of September, the pictures were published in French magazine “Closer”.
The photos show Middleton without her bikini top and, at one point, her bottom pulled down to apply sunscreen while relaxing at a private villa in Provence, southern France. The judge described the photographer as “grotesque” for taking the photos.
“These snapshots which showed the intimacy of a couple, partially naked on the terrace of a private home, surrounded by a park several hundred meters from a public road, and being able to legitmately assume that they are protected from passers-by, are by nature particularly intrusive,” the French ruling decreed. “They were thus subjected to this brutal display the moment the cover appeared.”
The Duke and Duchess were in their family’s private villa, surrounded by acres of park area, hundreds of meters away from a public road. A female photographer with a high powered lens took the photographs and was paid hansomely for it.
A French court ordered the magazine’s publisher to hand in the photos of the Duchess within 24 hours, and all other publications were ordered not to publish the photos as it was a breach of the royal couple’s privacy. If the photos fail to be handed in, “Closer” will face a daily fine $13,100.
“Good. ‘Closer’ definitely deserved that. I don’t know how they wouldn’t get in trouble for publishing pictures of the Duchess topless,” said sophomore Alexa Sumergido. “It must be very upsetting to have pictures of her topless everywhere in the world. I know I would be furious.”
The photos must be removed from the magazine’s website and they may not print anymore copies. In addition, the photos cannot be published in any other magazine in France, and they cannot be sold to any other publication in the world.
“I think what happened to them was absolutely horrible. They didn’t deserve that nor was it their fault. Whoever took those photos should be punished severly. The French magazine was very wrong in publishing these photos out into the public,” said sophomore Kirsten Pasewaldt.
By the time the royal family tried to stop all further publications of the pictures, it was already too late. Ireland and Italy already went ahead with the publications of Middleton’s topless photos, and the publisher of “Closer” received a $2,600 fine.
The Italian magazine “Chi” published 26 pages on Middleton’s topless situation, more than any magazine in Europe. About 200 snapshots were included in the spread.
Prince William was aggravated that his wife’s privacy was violated. This incident was a “chilling reminder” of how his mother, Princess Diana, died from a car crash after being chased by paparazzi.
Even though the photos of Middleton are easy access to anyone who has internet access, no British media will be willing to defy the royal family and publish them. However, people still continue to pass the pictures around, creating more embarrassment for the royal family.