Gossip Mag Uses Modeling Photos of Meghan Markle to SUE Kate Middleton After Badly Losing Lawsuit Over Topless Photos

By Yelena Mandenberg Yelena Mandenberg has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team
Published on June 13, 2018

Kate Middleton showed everyone she meant business when she sued the French magazine Closer and won a  £92,000 settlement, after the magazine published topless paparazzi pictures of the princess. Now, the magazine’s lawyers are firing back and filing an appeal, claiming that Meghan Markle’s modeling photos and videos are proof that Closer didn’t deserve to pay so much money in the settlement.

The photos in question were taken in 2012, as a paparazzi photographer snapped pictures of the Duchess lounging by a pool. In a private chateau. Using a long lens. Without the royal’s permission.

On the other hand, Meghan Markle was a successful actress who often appeared in photoshoots. Where she chose to pose for the photos. And probably also got paid pretty well, too.

The lawyer for Closer magazine, Paul-Albert Iweins, told the press that the magazine “overpaid” for a “simple privacy matter.”

Another legal rep on the case had some interesting opinions:

“They [royals] are happy with sexy photos of themselves when they are in control, but then claim huge amounts of money when they’re unauthorised,’ said one legal source involved in the case.”

“There’s ridiculous hypocrisy involved, and the outrageous compensation figure reflects this.”

It’s perfectly legal in most countries to photograph and publish photos without the permission of the subject. It’s only illegal to use said photos to promote products or businesses.

While it is legal, paparazzi methods are frowned upon ever since photographers were involved in the death of Princess Diana. For a few years, that incident seemed to calm paparazzi down, with even the Daily Mail pledging to respect some degrees of privacy.

Prince William was very outspoken about the pictures of his wife. In a BBC special documentary called Diana, 7 Days, William recalled his mother’s own escapades with the media.

“Very sadly, a lot of my memories revolve around trying to cheer her up. I believe she cried more to do with the press intrusion than anything else in her life. The impact it was having on her that we would then see and feel was very difficult to understand. She was subjected to treatment that, frankly, nowadays people would find utterly appalling.”

In addition to a particular shoot for Men’s Health, the magazine’s lawyers say they will point out the sheer amount of media that Markle posed for seductively. This includes scenes from Suits, and paparazzi photos of Markle topless on a beach, which were taken before she joined the royal family.

This is the video in question:

The royal family actually doesn’t often get involved in lawsuits. Even Princess Diana, for all the invasion, only sued the media once. When members of the royal family do have to engage in a lawsuit, it’s usually settled outside of court to avoid being a public spectacle.

However, it is a new generation of royals. Times have definitely changed, media has changed, and the attitude of royal women has definitely changed. Kate Middleton fought in this lawsuit for five years, and didn’t give up until it was won.

We can’t wait to see how Markle claps back at this ridiculous lawsuit!

By Yelena Mandenberg Yelena Mandenberg has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team

Journalist verified by Muck Rack verified

Yelena Mandenberg is the Ideas Editor at Grit Daily with a passion for news of all sorts. Finishing Brooklyn College with a degree in Print Media Journalism as the industry died out, she began working as a freelancer.After spending some time working in the retail industry, Yelena started BK Riot Writing, a marketing company that caters to small and local businesses, creating content that helps them compete. From her South Brooklyn apartment where she lives with her cat & tortoise, Yelena is always seeking something new and interesting to cover.

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