British Royals to File Complaint

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/world/europe/british-royals-to-file-complaint.html

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LONDON (AP) — Lawyers for the British royal family will make a criminal complaint against the photographer who took pictures of Prince William’s wife, Kate, sunbathing topless in the south of France, the prince’s office said on Sunday.

The palace has already initiated a civil suit against the French magazine Closer, which published the paparazzi photographs of the former Ms. Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, relaxing during a holiday at a private villa in Provence.

The prince’s office called the publication of the pictures a “grotesque” abuse of privacy.

A royal spokeswoman said a complaint would be filed with French prosecutors on Monday against the unidentified photographer or photographers involved.

The palace said it would be up to the French prosecutors to decide whether to investigate and pursue a criminal complaint for breach of privacy or trespassing.

The couple’s lawyers are already expected in a Paris court on Monday to seek an injunction against Closer’s publisher, the Italian media group Mondadori. It also publishes the Italian gossip magazine Chi, which says it will publish 26 pages of the images on Monday.

The palace will seek damages from the publisher, which is owned by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.