Kate Middleton and Prince William given major update on ‘grossly intrusive’ leaked family photos
Kate Middleton and Prince William have just shared a major update on the lawsuit they filed against an international publication which leaked their 'grossly intrusive' family photos.
The royal parents, who share Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis together, have now successfully sued Paris Match magazine in France after the outlet published long-lens paparazzi snaps of their skiing getaway, which took place earlier this year.
The photos in question featured the three young children enjoying the slopes in the Alps during the Easter break.
It's since been reported that a French Court has now ruled there was an infringement of the family's privacy, instructing Paris Match to publish a judicial notice acknowledging the breach, with a penalty of €10,000 per issue until compliance.
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The court has also ordered the outlet to cover William and Kate's legal costs in France.
Issuing a statement on the matter, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales have been successful in legal proceedings brought in France against the owner of Paris Match, which published a grossly intrusive article and long-lens paparazzi photographs of their private family holiday in the Alps in April.
"The ruling affirms that, notwithstanding their public duties as members of The Royal Family, Their Royal Highnesses and their children are entitled to respect for their private lives and family time, without unlawful interference and intrusion."
The statement concluded: "The Prince and Princess of Wales are committed to protecting their private family time and ensuring that their children can grow up without undue scrutiny and interference. They will not hesitate to take such action as is necessary to enforce those boundaries."
HELLO!'s Royal Editor Emily Nash has since shared her verdict on the significance of William and Kate's legal victory, telling the outlet: "This really underlines how seriously William and Kate take their family's privacy and their absolute determination to protect it, both in the UK and abroad.
"William grew up in the spotlight and saw how his parents struggled with media intrusion and is adamant the same won't happen to his own family."
The case has similar parallels to a 2012 incident, where William and Kate successfully sued the French magazine Closer for publishing topless photos of Kate.
Just 24 hours after the announcement that the pair were expecting their third child, the court in Nanterre, west of Paris, awarded them €100,000 (£91,000) in damages and interest to be paid by the celebrity mag and two photographers.
Closer's editor and the CEO of its publisher were each fined a further €45,000, which was the maximum allowed. The awards, while high for a French court, are considerably lower than the €1.5 million the royal pair's legal team had initially demanded.
Topics: Europe, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Royal Family, World News
Rhiannon Ingle