Kate was sunbathing topless. Seems like a text message you could receive from a friend, until you add in the all-important details: she is also the Duchess of Cambridge, was privately vacationing in France when the photos were snapped and those photos were published by the French magazine, Closer.
Middleton, who has been living a true-life Cinderella story after marrying Prince William, Duke of Cambridge last year, has been dealing with a royal nightmare lately. On Sept. 13, Closer published topless photos of Kate. The mag has remained unapologetic and editor Laurence Pieau-the individual responsible for publishing the picture-defends the decision, claiming that the photos are "not in the least shocking." That was only the beginning of the saga, which has included an intense ongoing French legal battle and Italian and Irish magazines, Chi and Irish Daily Star, respectively, jumping on the bandwagon to publish the royal's pics.
Paparazzi have been infamously tracking down celebrities for decades, and the royal family has long been a target-case in point, Princess Diana. So is it even really an issue that some photos were taken and published without Kate's permission?
To break it down, there are a number of contentious points. First, Kate and her royal hubby were on vacation at relative Lord Linley's personal chateau in Provence, France, where privacy was the number one priority. There is no doubt that the photos were taken using a very strong lens; thus the pictures were the result of a deliberate peeping Tom rather than a coincidental photo of a nearby event.
Second, we need to consider the practice of sunbathing. While topless tanning isn't a widely-accepted practice here in the States, it's a pretty common pastime in France, which would explain Pieau defending the publication of the photos by arguing, "[Kate] is a young woman who is topless, just like the ones seen on all the beaches of France."
Third, keep in mind this all boils down to business. These publications are companies and such photos would undoubtedly skyrocket sales.
But of course, let's not forget, this isn't just a random French mademoiselle-this is the future Queen Consort of England. Part of being a member of the royal family is being a flawless role model-something the topless images don't entirely uphold.
But perhaps most contentiously, where exactly does freedom of the press end and individual privacy begin? I have been able to understand points from both sides-the business-oriented magazines as well as the respected royal family. But at the end of the day, I say these photos shouldn't be seen by the world.