The editor of Italy's Chi magazine has defended his decision to print bikini pictures of pregnant Kate Middleton on holiday - and said it shouldn't be compared to the hounding of Diana Princess of Wales.
Gossip rag Chi - owned by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi- was the first magazine to print Kate and Wills' holiday snaps yesterday.
On a website publicising Chi, Kate is pictured on the magazine's front cover in a blue bikini, which shows her slight baby bump, striding knee-high through the sea above the headline "the belly grows".
A second image shows the Duke , wearing a pair of shorts, with his left arm around his wife as they walk along a beach, under the headline "Kate and William honeymoon in three".
Editor Alfonso Signorini today said: "The article features photos of a young couple in love as they happily walk along the shore.
“They are images of such unexceptional normality that there is only limited mention of them on the cover of the magazine.
“The photographs, which can in no way be considered scandalous, were bought from an international photo agency, do not harm the image of the protagonists and the reaction of the media seems to me wholly over the top.
“Moreover, the photographs can hardly be considered an invasion of privacy when the subjects are public figures in a public place, in the open air; specifically on a beach surrounded by other bathers.
“It is also true that the Italian press is not a party to the gentlemen’s agreement between the British press and Buckingham Palace.
“What our readers will see is simply a moment of joyful relaxation being enjoyed by a smiling, happy couple.
"Where’s the scandal in that?”
Signorini told Italian news website Corriere.it : "You can't compare it with the media persecution of Lady D (Diana, Princess of Wales). I repeat: the photos were taken in a public place."
St James's Palace would not comment on whether William had been informed about the issue or if they were considering any form of legal action against the magazine.
But a spokesman condemned the magazine for breaching the royal couple’s privacy .
He said: “We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas.
“This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”
Gossip rag Chi - owned by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi- was the first magazine to print Kate and Wills' holiday snaps yesterday.
On a website publicising Chi, Kate is pictured on the magazine's front cover in a blue bikini, which shows her slight baby bump, striding knee-high through the sea above the headline "the belly grows".
A second image shows the Duke , wearing a pair of shorts, with his left arm around his wife as they walk along a beach, under the headline "Kate and William honeymoon in three".
Editor Alfonso Signorini today said: "The article features photos of a young couple in love as they happily walk along the shore.
“They are images of such unexceptional normality that there is only limited mention of them on the cover of the magazine.
“The photographs, which can in no way be considered scandalous, were bought from an international photo agency, do not harm the image of the protagonists and the reaction of the media seems to me wholly over the top.
“Moreover, the photographs can hardly be considered an invasion of privacy when the subjects are public figures in a public place, in the open air; specifically on a beach surrounded by other bathers.
“It is also true that the Italian press is not a party to the gentlemen’s agreement between the British press and Buckingham Palace.
“What our readers will see is simply a moment of joyful relaxation being enjoyed by a smiling, happy couple.
"Where’s the scandal in that?”
Signorini told Italian news website Corriere.it : "You can't compare it with the media persecution of Lady D (Diana, Princess of Wales). I repeat: the photos were taken in a public place."
St James's Palace would not comment on whether William had been informed about the issue or if they were considering any form of legal action against the magazine.
But a spokesman condemned the magazine for breaching the royal couple’s privacy .
He said: “We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas.
“This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”
