The situation intensified when the images were republished by the Italian magazine Chi and later by the Irish edition of the British Daily Star.
“Years before, William had gone against the grain when he warned the Fleet Street photographers that he would not tolerate a life of intrusion. This time, he was ready to go to war with the press,” Myers said.
In 2017, a French court ruled in favor of Prince William and Princess Catherine, determining that Closer’s publication of the photographs constituted a serious breach of privacy.
The magazine was ordered to pay €100,000 (approximately AUD$165,000) in damages.
The couple also pursued legal action against Chi, owned by the Mondadori Group, over its decision to print the same images.
A promise of protection
Myers later noted that William’s firm stance was rooted in his early determination to shield Catherine as she transitioned into royal life.
“[At the beginning of the relationship], she felt, ‘If I’m going to put myself forward for something like this, then I not only need the support of William, but also the support of the institution’,” Myers told Fox News Digital.