Royal family royally angered over Middleton pics -- and there are more to come

Prince William and Kate Middleton will file a criminal complaint against the photographer who took topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and against the French magazine that published them, their office said yesterday.

Lawyers for the royal couple will make the criminal request at a Paris court today, also seeking damages from the magazine, Closer, and an injunction against the publication of further images.

"The complaint concerns the taking of photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge whilst on holiday and the publication of those photographs in breach of their privacy," said a spokeswoman for the second in line to the British throne and his wife of 16 months.

Closer has defended its publication of a dozen long-lens shots of the duchess, the former Kate Middleton, on holiday at a secluded villa in southern France. They show her slipping off her bikini top, relaxing topless on a sun lounger and pulling down her bikini bottoms as her husband applies lotion.

In Italy, Closer's sister publication Chi was due to publish a special edition today including 26 pages of the photos.