Kate Middleton topless pictures: Palace says invasion of privacy is "grotesque and totally unjustifiable" and evokes memories of Princess Diana

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may sue over holiday snaps that have appeared in French Closer magazine

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge "have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner", St James's Palace said today, after topless photographs of Kate were published.
Here is the statement in full: "Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner.
"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.
"Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them.
"Officials acting on behalf of Their Royal Highnesses are consulting with lawyers to consider what options may be available to The Duke and Duchess.
"The Duke and Duchess remain focused currently on their Tour of Singapore, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu on behalf of HM The Queen."
The long lens photos of Kate, sunbathing on the terrace of a guest house, were published across four pages in Closer magazine today.
Royal officials have said that Wiiliam and Kate reacted in "anger and disbelief" when they found out about the pictures.
Earlier a royal source said the pictures “turned the clock back 15 years” in a clear reference to William's late mother Diana who was pursued by paparazzi.
A spokesman said: “Their sadness has turned to anger and disbelief as we learn more about the photographs.
“We believe a real line has been crossed."
The snaps were allegedly taken during a brief holiday she enjoyed with William in France last week.

Duchess of Cambridge on the cover of Closer magazine in France - Topless

The couple were staying in Provence at a chateau owned by Lord Linley, the Queen's nephew, ahead of their Diamond Jubilee tour of south-east Asia and the South Pacific on behalf of the Queen.
William and Kate were told about the allegations this morning at breakfast before they visited the Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on the fourth day of their tour. They have also looked at the images on the website.
The pictures have reignited the row over privacy which raged around Prince Harry last month, when embarrassing images emerged of him frolicking naked in a Las Vegas hotel.
Staying in a reported £5,000-a-night hotel suite, Harry was filmed wearing a hat, sunglasses and colourful swimming shorts, and socialising with bikini-clad women at a pool party.
The Sun was the only British newspaper to defy a Press Complaints Commission advisory note not to publish photos of Harry in the nude with an unnamed woman.
In another development there was a security scare when a man believed to be an avid royal fan tried to approach the royals' chauffeur-driven limousine apparently with the aim of handing the Duchess a flower or taking a photograph but was detained by local police.