Chi magazine cover (Yahoo! Shine)Photos of the Duchess of Cambridge and her burgeoning baby bump have finally surfaced, and the Royal family is once again, up in arms.
On Wednesday Italian magazine Chi published photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while on vacation in the Caribbean island of Mustique. Kate is shown in a blue bikini, with her naturally curly hair down, and a barely noticeable baby bump.
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A spokeswoman from St. James Palace revealed on Tuesday, “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.”
However, other publications have a different viewpoint. As reported by Shine Parenting blogger Jessica Ferri, “Alfonso Signorini, the editor of Chi, balked at the palace’s suggestion that the images were an invasion of privacy. ‘The photographs can hardly be considered an invasion of privacy when the subjects are public figures in a public place,’ he told People Magazine. ‘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?’”
Ferri also notes that Women’s Day has also published the photographs, “claiming no boundaries had been crossed. ‘There is no photographer hiding in the bushes and she is not inside a private villa,’” editor Fiona Connolly said to News Ltd.
With pregnant celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson proudly showing off their baby bumps, and previously pregnant celebrities Heidi Klum, Demi Moore and Britney Spears appearing on magazine covers in all their pregnant glory, it may be difficult to understand the furor over these published photos. However in the UK, the press apparently have a “gentleman’s agreement” over the protection of public figures’ privacy. ABC News Royal contributor explained to Yahoo! Shine, “The Palace is incensed over the publication of these photos because they’re realizing that this is a battle they cannot win. The British press has been incredibly well behaved. But the idea of the world playing fair when there is money to be made is just ludicrous.”
For the royal couple, it’s another realization that there is limited privacy afforded to them while they live their life as public figures. The incident has left Kate “shaken up a little,” a source told US Weekly. And for William, the incident has undoubtedly reminded him of the harsh scrutiny his late mother faced when she was alive.
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Slideshow: Kate Middleton's maternity style, what will the mom-to-be wear?
Photo by: Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kate Middleton has her work cut out for her. As the world's fashion ambassador, she'll have to negotiate trend-setting with palace propriety. Royal ... more
Photo by: Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kate Middleton has her work cut out for her. As the world's fashion ambassador, she'll have to negotiate trend-setting with palace propriety. Royal expert and author, Charles Jacoby, predicts her maternity look will be, above all, understated. "It's going to be demure," Jacoby tells Shine. "There is a major enquiry into press standards at the moment so it could be borderline Edwardian."
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