After Harry come Kate's topless photos

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be furious after a French magazine published topless photos of Kate.

Up close and personal: Copies of the celebrity magazine Closer, which published Kate's topless pictures (MiD DAY has superimposed the pics as we don't publish nudity)

The long lens photos of Kate, sunbathing on the terrace of a guest house, were published across four pages in Closer magazine yesterday.

Royal officials have said that Wiiliam and Kate reacted in ‘anger and disbelief' when they found out about the pictures.u00a0Earlier 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.

The Show must go on: Kate Middleton puts on a brave face during a mosque visit in Malaysia after she was told that topless pictures of hers had been published in a French magazine. Pics/AFP.

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."u00a0The snaps were allegedly taken during a brief holiday she enjoyed with William in France last week. William and Kate were told about the allegations last 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. Speaking about the royal couple a source said, "They're saddened their privacy has been breached - if it has been breached. It's very disappointing."

The Palace said, "St James's Palace confirms that legal proceedings for breach of privacy have been commenced today in France by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge against the editor and publishers of Closer Magazine."

Magazine editor defends decision

Laurence Pieau, the editor of the magazine, defended the decision to publish the pictures saying, "These photos are not in the least shocking. "They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches." The publication of the pictures is likely to cause a major storm in the wake of the nude pictures of Prince Harry in Las Vegas. French mag editor Pieau said the pictures showed Kate "fully topless" and added: "Harry is going to feel a lot less alone." The intimate snaps are said to show William and Kate, both 30, rubbing sun cream on their bodies in 30°C heat by the pool. The mag blurb said: "Kate was perfecting her tan. And to avoid streaky tan marks, she took off her bathing suit."