Prince William and Catherine have secured a legal win in France, after suing Paris Match for intrusive photographs where taken on a family holiday.
The publication printed long-lens paparazzi photos of The Prince and Princess of Wales – including images of the couple’s three children, George, Charlotte and Louis – on the slopes in the Alps during the Easter break.
The magazine published the judicial notice, which said that its content ‘had infringed the respect due to their private life and the rights the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have on their image’.
William and Catherine’s lawyers had told the French court they preferred the publication of the notice rather than any compensation.
It has been reported that the summary proceedings in this legal battle were issued on 28th April, just two weeks after the article was published, with an oral hearing later held in June.
Additional developments took place in September, with an interim order issued by the President of the Court, which was sealed into a final order on 14th October.
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 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.’
The legal win comes weeks after Prince William appeared on Eugene Levy’s ‘The Reluctant Traveler’, where he spoke about the impact of press intrusion, making a rare mention of his brother.
William stated that he wanted to create a world in which George is proud of what the Royal Family does, ‘a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better. That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past, that Harry and I had to grow up with – and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.’
The Prince added: ‘Growing up I saw that with my parents. And if you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family. And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is and those who overstep it, you know I’ll fight against.’
This is the second time William and Catherine have taken legal action against a French publication. In 2012, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge launched proceedings against magazine Closer to stop the publication topless photographs of Kate taken while the couple were on a private holiday at a secluded family villa in Provence.
A court later awarded the couple approximately £91,700 in damages in 2017.
