St James's Palace has condemned publications that plan to publish pictures of Kate Middleton and Prince William during their private holiday in Mustique. "We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas," a spokesman for the couple at St. James's Palace said. "This is a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy."
The comment refers to Italian magazine Chi – the same publication that printed intimate photos of Kate while she and Prince William were on holiday in France last year. Following the Palace's statement, it was revealed that Australian weekly Woman's Day will also publish photos of the couple in Mustique. The situation is likely to anger William and Kate, given that the Duchess' baby bump is clearly on display for the first time.She is pictured in a bikini strolling next to her husband by the shore, and the couple seem unaware they are being photographed. Pippa Middleton also appears in some of the images. Fiona Connolly, editor of Woman's Day, says that the pictures were taken openly by a fellow holidaymaker while on a public beach and not by a lone paparazzo.
"It wasn't a hard decision to run these photos," she told Australia's Herald Sun newspaper. "She [Kate] is on a public beach and she was mingling with holidaymakers. There are other holidaymakers in the photos. "It's a very different situation to the nude photos, there is no photographer hiding in the bushes and she is not inside a private villa."
Fiona Connolly's description may explain how photos of the couple leaked from the privately-owned island of Mustique, where paparazzi are banned amid high security measures.William and Kate flew to Mustique last week, where they were joined by her sister Pippa Middleton and her parents Carole and Michael. The couple were hoping to enjoy what may be their last holiday before becoming parents in July.But their break ends on a sour note, just five months after the Duke and Duchess were snapped as they sunned themselves on a private terrace in Provence, France.
On that occasion, they ardently sought out the photographer who sparked the furore and took legal action against him and French magazine Closer, who ran his images. Royal aides also released a strongly-worded statement on behalf of their employers, who were "furious" at the "brutal display" of their private lives. "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 missive said. It isn't yet known how William and Kate will react to the latest breach of their privacy.
