Irish paper publishes topless Kate snaps

The pictures featured under the headline "Angry Kate to sue over mag snaps" and did not appear in the Northern Ireland edition of the paper.

The tabloid is jointly owned by Northern and Shell and Independent News and Media who have both issued statements denying prior knowledge of publication and expressing deep regret for the move.

Media tycoon Richard Desmond, chairman of Northern and Shell, said he was taking immediate steps to end the partnership.

"The decision to publish these pictures has no justification whatever and Northern and Shell condemns it in the strongest possible terms," he added.

I am very angry at the decision to publish these photographs and am taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture.

Richard Desmond

Northern and Shell added it had no editorial control over the newspaper and was consulting its lawyers "as a matter of urgency over what we believe to be a serious breach of their contract".

Communications director Mimi Turner said: "We abhor the decision of the Irish Daily Star to publish these intrusive pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which we, like St James's Palace, believe to be a grotesque invasion of their privacy."

She added: "Northern and Shell is profoundly dismayed at the decision made by Irish Daily Star, which would never have been made by any of the newspapers or magazines under our editorial control.

"We consider all aspects of privacy very carefully, and would never condone this action."

The photographs, taken of the couple on holiday in the south of France, originally appeared on the front cover and on the inside pages of French magazine Closer.

A spokesman for Independent News and Media, which also owns the Belfast Telegraph and the Sunday Life, said: "The decision by the Irish Daily Star to republish pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from the French magazine Closer was regrettable and in poor taste.

"Independent News and Media had no prior knowledge of the decision to publish."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are continuing their Diamond Jubilee tour of south-east Asia and the South Pacific.

It has been confirmed that they are taking legal action against the French publication, as they believe the pictures were a breach of privacy.

Italian magazine Chi said it will show the topless pictures in a special publication next week.

A palace spokeswoman said a review was under way of further action that might be taken against more media publishing the photos.