- Prince William "could barely contain his fury" when nude photos of Kate Middleton were published in 2012.
- Pictures of Kate sunbathing topless were taken while they were on a private vacation..
- The couple sued, and William released an impassioned statement about the shocking violation.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's privacy was enormously violated during a holiday in Provence, when long-lens photographers took photos of Kate sunbathing topless—which were then published in Closer magazine.
According to royal author Robert Jobson in Catherine: a Biography for a Future Queen, William "could barely contain his fury" over the shocking breach of privacy, and "believes that if anyone oversteps the mark regarding Catherine...it is his duty to step in and protect her." His "stance was clear from the start of their relationship: he would not tolerate the media crossing the line."
The images were published when Kate and William were on a royal tour of Malaysia, and William was furious, becoming "albeit temporarily withdrawn and unhelpful in media situations."
The couple ended up suing, and William gave a statement during the trial, saying, per the BBC, "My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy. We know France and the French, and we know that they are, in principle, respectful of private life, including that of their guests. The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy."
FYI, Kate and William were awarded €100,000 in damages and interest.
