Duchess Catherine topless — but not while playing strip pool

By Amy Hubbard

Sept. 14, 2012 12 AM PT

The former Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, reportedly is distressed that topless photos of her were to appear in a French magazine Friday. William and those at the palace aren’t too thrilled about it, either.

The latest royal show of skin follows a recent scandal involving Catherine’s brother-in-law, Prince Harry, who was shown in photos with a bare bum, etc., bending over a young woman. The nudity was part of a game of strip pool during a princely visit to Las Vegas.

There was no strip pool in this case, but there was a swimming pool. The duke and duchess were apparently sunbathing during a vacation in Provence last week. Kate took off her top (no messy tan lines), and a photographer used a long lens to capture the sight, according to the Telegraph.

PHOTOS: Celebrity scandals: The naked truth

The U.K. news outlet quotes a “royal source” as saying the pair were “saddened” at having their privacy invaded. In addition, palace officials were set to contact lawyers in France to verify the photos were genuine and see what could be done about them. The cat’s out of the bag, though, as the magazine’s website reportedly showed teaser pictures of Kate allegedly removing a white bikini top. (This could not be verified independently Friday morning as the site appears to be down -- swamped by looky-loos, no doubt.)

Yahoo News interviewed the editor of the magazine, who said basically that the photos were no big deal. Although a “coup” for the magazine, they’re just of a young woman sunbathing topless, something “millions” do, Laurence Pieau told Yahoo.

But the palace isn’t taking this lightly.

In a statement, officials had sentiments that were similar to the palace response when Harry bared his all. At that time, they said: “What he did was entirely his own business.”

This time: “Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them.”

But the palace also invoked the memory of Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in an incident that involved paparazzi on Aug. 31, 1997:

“The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to the Duke and Duchess for being so.”

Meanwhile, William and Catherine are touring the Far East and South Pacific, part of their activities for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Catherine appeared Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, fully buttoned up.