Topless Photos: Royal Couple Granted Injunction

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have won an injunction preventing Closer magazine showing more photos of her sunbathing.

The injunction was granted by the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Nanterre, Paris.

In a civil case the royal couple also sought 5,000 euros (£4,034) in damages and a ban on the French magazine - which is run by a different company from the British version - re-publishing the images.

Representing them, lawyer Aurelien Hamelle also asked the court to fine Closer 10,000 euros (£8,070) a day for each day the injunction was not respected, and 100,000 euros (£80,720) if the photos are sold.

However, lawyers representing Italian publishing group Mondadori, which owns France's Closer and is controlled by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, told the court that the photos are not theirs to sell.

Mondadori-owned Italian gossip magazine Chi has also published a 26-page spread featuring the topless pictures.

Meanwhile, a court in Nanterre has opened a criminal investigation into claims photographers and Closer breached Wlliam and Kate's privacy by publishing the topless photos of her.

The latest developments come after the Irish Daily Star suspended its editor, Michael O'Kane , pending an investigation into the newspaper's decision to use the pictures on Saturday.

The decision infuriated media mogul Richard Desmond, who jointly owns the Star with INM.

Mr Desmond has said he wants it shut down, with insiders at his corporation warning: "He says what he means, and means what he says".

Alan Shatter, the Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, has said the Republic will introduce privacy laws on the back of the scandal.

The scandal first erupted last week when Closer ran the images of the royal couple enjoying a private holiday at Chateau d'Autet, near Aix-en-Provence.

In an angry response St James's Palace said in a statement that a red line had been crossed.

William and Kate are currently on a Diamond Jubilee tour of the Far East and South Pacific where they have travelled to one of the smallest countries in the world, the island nation of Tuvalu.

Source: Yahoo News (18/09/2012): http://uk.news.yahoo.com/topless-photos-royal-couple-granted-injunction-102432315.html