Kate Middleton's baby bump photos have been published online by Star magazine, leading to complaints from the Buckingham Palace representatives saying it's a violation of privacy, according to reports.
On Wednesday, Star magazine published bikini photos of the four-months-pregnant Duchess of Cambridge with Prince William while on the beach in the Caribbean. The photos were also published in the Italian gossip magazine Chi, the magazine owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Mondadori group, and Australian magazine Woman's Day.
Chi is the same publication which ran topless pictures of the 31-year-old Duchess Catherine sunbathing last year.
A royal spokesperson said the publication of the photos was "a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy," according to the newspaper the New Zealand Herald. The St James's Palace spokesperson added: "We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas," the Guardian reported.
Another rep speaking to People Magazine described the violation as "grotesque" and "unjustifiable."
"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," the spokesman said.
Chi editor Alfonso Signorini defended their decision to publish them, telling the BBC: "They are images of such unexceptional normality that there is only limited mention of them on the cover of the magazine. The photographs, which can in no way be considered scandalous, were bought from an international photo agency, do not harm the image of the protagonists and the reaction of the media seems to me wholly over the top."
Australia's Women's Day also reportedly shelled out $150,000 for the set. The magazine's Fiona Connolly told the Telegraph, "In this instance they are a beautiful set of photos."
