A French court has ruled that topless photographs of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton were inappropriately published in 2012, fining two magazine figures the equivalent of $66,000 each.
In a significant ruling, Laurence Pieau, editor of Closer Magazine, and Ernesto Mauri, who owns the mag, were found to have invaded Middleton’s privacy when they printed the images.
The shots of Middleton and husband Prince William were taken while the royal couple holidayed at a chateau in southeastern France, and showed the pair relaxing on a balcony.
In an official statement after the ruling, the pair said they “wished to make the point strongly that this kind of unjustified intrusion should not happen.”
Two photographers accused of using long-range telephoto lenses to snap the images were also fined nearly $15,000 each, with the court suspending half of their fines.
Despite hotel records and retrieved mobile phone data suggesting they were in the vicinity of the couple’s chateau, both photogs maintained they didn’t take the offending snaps.
The ruling comes shortly after the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, who was hounded by the paparazzi through many of her final years.
