Saturday, September 15, 2012

Italy magazine Chi to publish topless royal photos - CNN

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, day four of the royal couple's tour of the Far East.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, day four of the royal couple's tour of the Far East.
The royal couple visits Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.The royal couple visits Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.
The royal couple put their shoes on after visiting the KLCC Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.The royal couple put their shoes on after visiting the KLCC Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
A crowd takes photos of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk in the KLCC gardens in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.A crowd takes photos of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk in the KLCC gardens in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits Assyakirin Mosque on Friday.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits Assyakirin Mosque on Friday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's Head of State Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah at the Istana Negara on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The duchess' evening gown, by Alexander McQueen, features the Malaysian flower, hibiscus, in gold detail.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's Head of State Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah at the Istana Negara on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The duchess' evening gown, by Alexander McQueen, features the Malaysian flower, hibiscus, in gold detail.
Catherine talks to Sultanah Tuanku Haminah binti Hamidun, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia, during an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's sultan.Catherine talks to Sultanah Tuanku Haminah binti Hamidun, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia, during an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's sultan.
Britain's Prince William speaks with Linges Warry Apparad, a 14-year-old with leukemia, at Hospis Malaysia Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Britain's Prince William speaks with Linges Warry Apparad, a 14-year-old with leukemia, at Hospis Malaysia Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Catherine meets leukemia sufferer Zakwan Anuar, 15, at Hospis Malaysia on September 13, 2012.Catherine meets leukemia sufferer Zakwan Anuar, 15, at Hospis Malaysia on September 13, 2012.
Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, meet Richard Robless, council member of Hospis Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, meet Richard Robless, council member of Hospis Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Schoolchildren wave Malaysia national flags as Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on September 13, 2012.Schoolchildren wave Malaysia national flags as Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on September 13, 2012.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Kranji War Cemetery Thursday in Singapore.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit Kranji War Cemetery Thursday in Singapore.
Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, lay a wreath to pay their respects to WWII dead at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore Thursday.Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, lay a wreath to pay their respects to WWII dead at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore Thursday.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, glances back at war graves as she leaves Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery on the third day of her Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East with husband Prince William on Thursday, September 13 in Singapore.Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, glances back at war graves as she leaves Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery on the third day of her Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East with husband Prince William on Thursday, September 13 in Singapore.
Catherine signs the visitors' book at Eden Hall on Wednesday. Catherine signs the visitors' book at Eden Hall on Wednesday.
The signatures of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (not pictured) mark their visit on Wednesday.The signatures of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (not pictured) mark their visit on Wednesday.
The royal couple visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.The royal couple visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.
The couple look out over a balcony at Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.The couple look out over a balcony at Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.
The duke and duchess pose for a picture with children as they visit The Rainbow Centre in Singapore. The duke and duchess pose for a picture with children as they visit The Rainbow Centre in Singapore.
Prince William and Catherine pose with 4-year-old Maeve Low as they tour the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus during the Diamond Jubilee tour at Seletar Aerospace Park on Wednesday, September 12, the second day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore.Prince William and Catherine pose with 4-year-old Maeve Low as they tour the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus during the Diamond Jubilee tour at Seletar Aerospace Park on Wednesday, September 12, the second day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore.
The duke and duchess applaud as they visit The Rainbow Centre.The duke and duchess applaud as they visit The Rainbow Centre.
Bystanders crane for photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Strathmore Green, a precinct in Queenstown, a residential district of Singapore on Wednesday.Bystanders crane for photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to Strathmore Green, a precinct in Queenstown, a residential district of Singapore on Wednesday.
Catherine and Prince William watch demonstrations as they attend a cultural event in Queenstown on Wednesday.
Catherine and Prince William watch demonstrations as they attend a cultural event in Queenstown on Wednesday.
A young girl gives flowers to Catherine on Wednesday.
A young girl gives flowers to Catherine on Wednesday.
Catherine and Prince William watch a performance by the Sunda Pajajaran group on Wednesday.Catherine and Prince William watch a performance by the Sunda Pajajaran group on Wednesday.
Prince William speaks to a child in the crowd on Wednesday.Prince William speaks to a child in the crowd on Wednesday.
Prince William, right, and wife Catherine are welcomed by a lion dance performance on Wednesday.Prince William, right, and wife Catherine are welcomed by a lion dance performance on Wednesday.
Prince William and Catherine tour the Rolls Royce plant on Wednesday.Prince William and Catherine tour the Rolls Royce plant on Wednesday.
Prince William and Catherine visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.
Prince William and Catherine visit Gardens by the Bay on Wednesday.
Catherine greets a child during a visit to The Rainbow Centre, a children's learning center, on Wednesday.Catherine greets a child during a visit to The Rainbow Centre, a children's learning center, on Wednesday.
Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay on day two of her Asia visit with husband, Prince William, Wednesday in Singapore. Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay on day two of her Asia visit with husband, Prince William, Wednesday in Singapore.
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, meets children at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.
Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.Catherine, Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at Gardens by the Bay Wednesday in Singapore.
The royal couple is greeted at the airport on Tuesday.The royal couple is greeted at the airport on Tuesday.
After their arrival Tuesday Catherine and her husband, Prince William, visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens.After their arrival Tuesday Catherine and her husband, Prince William, visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Catherine leaves Singapore Botanic Gardens after visiting on Tuesday.Catherine leaves Singapore Botanic Gardens after visiting on Tuesday.
William stops to speak to an honor guard on arrival at the Istana, home of Singapore's president and working office of the prime minister, during the Diamond Jubilee tour on Tuesday.William stops to speak to an honor guard on arrival at the Istana, home of Singapore's president and working office of the prime minister, during the Diamond Jubilee tour on Tuesday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana for a state dinner on the first day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana for a state dinner on the first day of their Diamond Jubilee tour in Singapore.
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  • NEW: Palace: Italy publication would "cause further, entirely unjustifiable upset" to royals
  • Italy's Chi magazine will run a 26-page special with the topless photos, publisher says
  • William and Kate are "hugely saddened" by the invasion of their privacy while on vacation
  • Ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi's daughter is chairwoman of Mondadori, publisher of Chi and Closer

London (CNN) -- The Italian magazine Chi said Saturday it plans to publish more photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless, a day after palace officials sued a French magazine over the images.

The publication of the photos in the French Closer magazine, owned by the same parent company, Mondadori, sparked an angry response from the royal couple and palace officials Friday.

William and Catherine were said to be "hugely saddened" by what palace officials called a "grotesque" invasion of privacy while they were on a private vacation.

The latest controversy comes only three weeks after the British royal family was caught up in a media furor over images of William's younger brother, Prince Harry, partying naked in his Las Vegas hotel room with a group of girls.

Despite the legal action in France, Mondadori spokeswoman Carmen Mugione told CNN Saturday that Chi plans to run 26 pages of photographs of the couple on vacation in an "extraordinary" special edition to go on sale in Italy on Monday.

Chi's front cover will also feature three revealing pictures of Catherine, according to a copy of the page sent by Mondadori via e-mail.

A St. James's Palace spokesperson said: "We will not be commenting on potential legal action concerning the alleged intended publication of the photos in Italy save to say that all proportionate responses will be kept under review.

"Any such publication would serve no purpose other than to cause further, entirely unjustifiable upset to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were enjoying time alone together in the privacy of a relative's home."

The palace confirmed Friday that legal proceedings for breach of privacy had been launched in France by the couple against the publishers of Closer in France.

According to Mondadori's website, Closer has an average weekly circulation of about 414,000, while Chi sells more than 340,000 copies a week. Marina Berlusconi, daughter of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has been chairwoman of the media group since 2003.

Legal analysts suggest the company hopes to recoup any legal costs and fines it may incur by increasing sales, thanks to the revealing pictures.

William and Kate, who are on an official tour of southeast Asian nations, were in Borneo Saturday, where they escaped from the outside world on a rainforest trek. Catherine was "upset" with Closer magazine, a palace source told CNN.

They will travel on to the Solomon Islands Sunday on the next leg of a tour that has been overshadowed by the furor over the photographs.

The grainy pictures published by Closer in France appear to have been taken with a long camera lens while the couple was staying at a private chateau in Provence, in southern France.

The new privacy controversies have dredged up the royal family's often rocky relationship with the press and put a spotlight on how the palace deals with the media after the tragic death of William's mother, Diana, as she fled photographers in Paris 15 years ago.

William and Catherine were "hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner," a St. James's Palace spokesman said Friday.

"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," the palace spokesman said.

"Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them."

Laurence Pieau, editor-in-chief of Closer in France, defended the decision to publish the images in an interview with CNN affiliate BFM-TV, saying: "We were just doing our job."

Pieau said that there had been no debate at the magazine over whether to publish the photos and that she believes they are not degrading, as "they are just like any other couple in love."

The website of Closer on Friday showed the front cover of the magazine with blurry images of William and Kate, along with the headline "Oh My God!" but did not link to the four-page spread.

But by Saturday that was replaced by a statement from the management of Closer, which said the photos it chose to publish "are in no case degrading."

"They show a young couple on vacation, beautiful, in love and modern, in their normal life. The article recounts the time the couple recently spent in southern France," it said. It also made clear the magazine is not linked with the UK publication of the same name.

William, who is second in line to the throne, and his wife were in Malaysia when the news broke, part way through a nine-day Southeast Asian tour of Commonwealth nations, which started in Singapore and will conclude with a stop in Tuvalu.

The Asia tour forms part of diamond jubilee celebrations for the queen, William's grandmother.

British lawyer Charlotte Harris said Friday that Closer's decision to publish was a clear breach of French legal codes and was out of line with current views on people's right to privacy.

"The perception of the French was that they are less aggressive, that they have a culturally different opinion of where privacy laws should lie. Here they appear to have gone right over the other way," she said.

French law provides for "draconian sanctions" to protect against this kind of behavior, she said, including orders to take magazines off shelves and the imposition of serious fines.

But even if distribution of the images is contained to a degree, Harris said, the damage is done to the extent that very private information about the duchess has now become public knowledge.

No UK newspaper has so far published the photographs of Catherine.

In the case of Prince Harry, the photographs were widely circulated online but were published in only one UK tabloid, The Sun, after palace officials asked UK media not to run them.

The Sun has made clear that it won't publish the pictures of Catherine, however. Editor Dominic Mohan tweeted: "The Sun has no intention of breaching the royal couple's privacy. The circumstances are very different to those relating to the photos of Prince Harry in Las Vegas."

The Press Complaints Commission, the UK press watchdog, received about 3,800 complaints from the public over the Prince Harry photos but said it was inappropriate for it to take any action in the absence of a formal complaint from the palace.

Royal officials appear to be taking publication of the photographs of William and Catherine much more seriously.

CNN's Per Nyberg contributed to this report.

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