Prince William wins privacy case

'Paris Match' published paparazzi photographs of royal couple, children taken during a private holiday

LONDON/PARIS:

Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, have won a privacy case against the French magazine 'Paris Match' for publishing paparazzi photographs of them and their children taken during a private holiday, according to a judicial notice published in the magazine on Thursday.

The ruling marks the second successful lawsuit by the royal couple against a French publication. In 2012, they won a similar case against 'Closer' magazine after it printed topless photos of the Princess of Wales.

Proceedings against 'Paris Match', which is owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH, were launched in April, shortly after the magazine printed the unauthorised images taken in the Alps.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: "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."

The couple, who have three children — Princes George and Louis, aged 12 and 7, and Princess Charlotte, 10 — have long emphasised their wish to give them as normal a childhood as possible.

William, 43, has frequently spoken of his deep distrust of the media following the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a Paris car crash while being pursued by paparazzi. Both he and Kate have also been among the victims of phone hacking by British newspapers. William previously reached a private settlement with Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers.

'Paris Match' acknowledged in its published judicial notice that it had infringed the family's right to privacy and their image rights. William and Kate's legal team told the court the couple had requested publication of the notice instead of financial compensation.