Prince William reportedly drew a hard line after topless photos of Kate Middleton were secretly taken and published during the couple’s private 2012 getaway in France.
According to reporting tied to a new royal book, William saw the images as a massive invasion of privacy and was determined to fight back in a way the palace could not ignore. The photos were snapped with long-lens cameras while the couple relaxed at a secluded estate in Provence ahead of an overseas royal tour celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
What should have been a quiet break quickly turned into an international royal crisis when the French magazine Closer published the pictures. The release reportedly sent shockwaves through the palace, with aides describing the moment as one that left William and Kate feeling deeply violated.
Even as the couple continued smiling through official appearances during their trip, behind the scenes William was said to be furious. He reportedly contacted then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, pushed for a public statement condemning the publication, and insisted the palace pursue legal action to the fullest extent possible.
The palace soon blasted the publication over what it called a gross breach of privacy, while legal teams rushed to stop the photos from spreading further. But despite those efforts, other European outlets followed, including Italy’s Chi, which reportedly ran an extended spread featuring the controversial images. An Irish edition of the Daily Star also published them.
The scandal became one of the most explosive royal privacy battles in years, with insiders saying William was determined to draw a line in the sand over what was described as monstrous behavior by the press.
In the U.K., the photos were never published. And just months later, the story was largely overtaken by major personal news from the royal couple: Kate’s pregnancy with Prince George. The early announcement came after she was hospitalized with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, making it impossible to keep the pregnancy private.
The legal fight, however, did not end there. In 2017, a French court convicted six people connected to the case, including magazine executives and photographers, over breach of privacy and related charges. Closer was fined 100,000 euros, while additional fines were handed down to the publisher, editor, and photographers. The defendants were also ordered to cover the couple’s legal costs.
At the time, Kensington Palace said William and Kate were pleased with the ruling and considered the matter closed, while making clear they believed it was essential to pursue every legal remedy available.
