Topless Kate photos published in Ireland, coming soon in Italy
A man holds a copy of the celebrity magazine Closer, which published topless pictures of Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, taken while the pair were on holiday in France on September 5. Announcing a world exclusive, Closer magazine invited readers on its website to pick up he new edition to enjoy “the photos that the world can’t wait to see; the Duchess of Cambridge topless on a guesthouse terrace.”
Publications in Italy and Ireland have printed – or are planning to print – photos of a naked Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William’s wife.
The Irish Daily Star used the photos today in a two-page spread despite Buckingham Palace’s lawsuit against the French magazine Closer, the first to use the revealing snapshots.
Star editor Mike O’Kane said the newspaper didn’t publish the topless vacation photos in its English or Northern Ireland editions.
He also didn’t apologize.
“She's not the future queen of Ireland, so really the only place this is causing fury seems to be in the UK, and they are very, very tasteful pictures,” O’Kane told The Telegraph.
“She decides to partially disrobe on a balcony where it can be seen from a public road and she’s stunned now, or the Palace are annoyed that people are interested in this. Of course people are going to be interested in this.”
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Chi, an Italian gossip magazine owned by former premier Silvio Berlusconi, said it would use the photos as part of a special edition featuring 26 pages of Kate.
The edition is to hit newsstands Monday.
Berlusconi publishing company Mondadori also owns Closer.
Chi editor Alfonso Signorini told The Associated Press that he doesn’t worry about a lawsuit since Closer has already used the pics.
“I don't see anything morbid or damaging in them,” he said. “Chi pays attention to respecting people’s dignity. I don’t think they hurt Kate’s image.”
The paparazzi photos feature Kate sunbathing topless at a French resort.
The Royal Family plans to sue Closer for its invasion of privacy.
Chi – Italian for “who” – landed in hot water three years ago when it published photos of a dying Princess Diana.
The Royals haven’t said yet if they will sue in Ireland or Italy.
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