Palace Fury As Italian Magazine Chi Publishes Photos Of Pregnant Kate In Bikini

A spokesman for St James’ Palace has said that the palace is “disappointed” that photographs of the bikini-clad Duchess of Cambridge on holiday are published in Italian magazine ‘Chi’ today.
 
‘Chi’ features a photograph of the Duchess on its front cover along with others shown inside the magazine. The spokesman said: “This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”
 
Kate was on holiday with her husband, Prince William, on the secluded private island of Mustique in the Caribbean last week. However, photographs of her showing her baby bump while she was on the beach were taken by paparazzi “from a distance”, perhaps from a boat offshore.
 
The photographs will not be published in the UK but there was speculation in the British press over the last few days that they would be sold elsewhere for as much as £25,000 (US$39,000/€29,000) in a bidding war. It is not known how much ‘Chi’ paid for the photographs.
 
It is the second time that the Italian gossip magazine has incurred the wrath of the royal family. In September 2012, the Prince filed a criminal complaint in France against the photographer who took pictures of the Duchess sunbathing topless last year. ‘Chi’, French magazine ‘Closer’ and the Irish ‘Daily Star’ all published some of the photos. ‘Chi’ and ‘Closer’ magazines are owned by former Italian premier and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi.
 
The latest invasion of the Duchess’ privacy has led to comments in the British press likening it to the harassment experienced by the Prince’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales when she was alive.
 
The Duchess is expecting her first child in July. She and the Prince were on holiday with her sister, Pippa, and her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
 
The 1,400-acre island of Mustique is in the Grenadine Islands of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. It is a favourite holiday retreat for the royal family and Princess Margaret owned a five-bedroom villa with a swimming pool there.
 
The young royal couple’s getaway break came after the Duchess suffered an acute form of morning sickness in December when she was hospitalised. It is the seventh time they have been to the island.