The scandal connected with the publication of the topless Duchess Catherine ended immediately after it had begun: the court of Nanterre in the suburb of Paris reached a verdict prohibiting the spread (selling, printing and posting on the Internet) of the photographs that had already caused a sensation.
Last week, the French Closer tabloid published a series of pictures from the rest of Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple were sunbathing by the pool, swimming, massaging each other, but Catherine chose to do it without the top of her swimwear.
The photos immediately spread all over the world (the British press, of course, refused to publish the “yellow” material), and the scandal ran high: some accused the French press in gross interference in private life and remembered the death of Princess Diana, while others railed about Catherine, who had forgotten about the rules of decency.
According to officials, Catherine herself was “hugely saddened”, but found the strength to smile calmly during a tour of Asia and Oceania.
Meanwhile, the Royal Court raged and threatened the presumptuous reporters with court trial procedures (since “they had crossed the line”).
In turn, the editors of Closer believed that there was nothing scandalous in the pictures. The magazine even posted an address on its website, saying that the published photos in any case did not degrade Kate Middleton. They just showed a young couple on holiday – beautiful, loving and modern people.
But the claim of the Duchess of Cambridge appeared at once, and the court also did not hesitate to satisfy it. However, only one claim – urgent civilian – has been satisfied so far. There is also a criminal lawsuit against an unnamed person, and it will take longer to judge upon it.
One can only guess who this “unnamed person” is – the paparazzi or the publisher. It is however doubtless that Catherine can now count on the compensation for moral damages (namely in the amount of 2,000 euros ($2,600).
