Royal expert Rebecca English is opening up about Prince William’s reaction to nude photos of Kate Middleton leaking in a French newspaper back in 2012.
The veteran royal reporter was with William on royal tour in Malaysia when the photos were leaked and had never seen him “so angry”—saying his jaw was “clenched” and he could “barely contain his fury.”
Meanwhile, Rebecca recalls Kate remaining cool, calm, and collected at an event just “hours after the publication hit newsstands,” saying in The Daily Mail that Her Royal Highness “was able to smile, shake hands and make small talk, without the slightest quiver or indication that anything was amiss.” Rebecca also claims William opened up during the trip, saying he was upset that he wasn’t able to protect Kate—a promise he’d made to her parents when they married.
FYI, William and Kate ended up suing over the pics, and made a rare statement at the time: “The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy,” William said, also explaining, “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.”
Meanwhile, St. James’s Palace issued a statement when the photos were published, saying, “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.”
Kate reportedly ended up being awarded $120,000 in damages.
