French court tells ‘Closer’ to hand over Kate topless photos

Judges in France on Tuesday ordered the editor of a French gossip magazine to hand over the topless photos of Kate Middleton within 24 hours.

Lawyers for the Duchess of Cambridge had argued they breached her privacy.

The injunction forbids any further publication or re-sale of the images.

The court in Nanterre also banned the publishers of Closer from selling the pictures to other media organisations in France.

They will be fined 10,000 euros for every day’s delay in complying with the injunction.

But the judgement does not affect publications outside France. The photos have already been circulated on the Internet.

The civil ruling comes as French prosecutors consider whether to open a full, criminal investigation.

The scandal has overshadowed Prince William and his wife’s tour of South Asia and the South Pacific.

They are in the region representing Queen Elizabeth as Commonwealth nations mark her Diamond Jubilee.

Copyright © 2013 euronews