While Prince Harry’s various court cases have been well documented before, during, and after they happened, Prince William and Kate Middleton quietly fought – and won – a much more secret legal battle that went almost completely under the radar!
The Prince and Princess of Wales were victorious in suing the publisher of French magazine Paris Match (Hachette Filipacchi Médias, a subsidiary of Hachette Livre) over the publication of photos taken during a private family trip earlier this year. Keep reading for more details…
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Kate Middleton And Prince William Take French Magazine Publisher To Court Over Invasion Of Privacy
The Prince and Princess of Wales have always been firm about protecting their children's privacy, and took legal action in France against the publisher of Paris Match after the magazine had printed long-lens paparazzi photos of the couple and their three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 – while they were on a private family holiday in the Alps over Easter.
A French judge ruled that publishing the images was an invasion of the family's privacy. The court ordered Paris Match to print a formal notice admitting the breach in its next issue, with a fine of €10,000 for every issue that fails to comply. The magazine was also ordered to cover Prince William and Kate's legal costs in France.
A Statement From Kensington Palace
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, have been successful in legal proceedings brought in France against the owner of Paris Match, which published a grossly intrusive article and long-lens paparazzi photographs of their private family holiday in the Alps in April."
"The ruling affirms that, notwithstanding their public duties as members of The Royal Family, Their Royal Highnesses and their children are entitled to respect for their private lives and family time, without unlawful interference and intrusion," the statement went on.
The statement concluded: "The Prince and Princess of Wales are committed to protecting their private family time and ensuring that their children can grow up without undue scrutiny and interference. They will not hesitate to take such action as is necessary to enforce those boundaries."
Reactions To The Prince And Princess Of Wales' Victory
Hello! royal editor Emily Nash weighed in on the importance of the couple protecting their children's privacy, noting that the Prince and Princess of Wales are determined to give them a very different upbringing from the one Prince William and Prince Harry experienced. She said: "This really underlines how seriously William and Kate take their family's privacy and their absolute determination to protect it, both in the UK and abroad."
Nash went on: "William grew up in the spotlight and saw how his parents struggled with media intrusion and is adamant the same won't happen to his own family."
Social media also had a lot to say on the matter, with many people praising them for their discreet handling of the case. "No fuss, without briefing the media. Just silently protected their kid's privacy," noted one fan on Instagram, followed by the hand clapping emoji, which may have been a not-so-subtle dig at Prince Harry at the same time.
"Silently and without a fuss… well done!" echoed a second. "They are protecting their children! Good on them," praised a third. "Well done to the future king and queen," added a fourth, as a fifth thought: "The future of the British Monarchy is in good hands."
