Pics of a topless Kate Middleton could soon hit the shelves in France

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Friday, September 14, 2012

French magazine Closer says it is ready to publish exclusive photos of the Duchess of Cambridge "topless on the terrace of a guest house in Luberon".

The magazine's website showed an image of the front cover, with the duchess apparently ready to take off her bikini top. In a blurb below the images, it said: "A little more than a year after their marriage, the royal couple was offered a romantic getaway, far from the protocol and etiquette in their very own garden of Eden. "Almost alone in the world ... because Closer was there!" it said. "Discover the incredible pictures of the future Queen of England as you've never seen … and as you never will see her again!".

The photographs were allegedly taken while the duchess was visiting the south France with Prince William for a romantic holiday. The couple stayed in Provence at a chateau owned by the Queen's nephew, Lord Linley, ahead of their tour of south-east Asia and the South Pacific.

The images have emerged only weeks after Prince Harry was snapped naked while in Las Vegas. Laurence Pieau, editor of French Closer magazine, said Prince Harry would feel "less alone" when the magazine hits shelves on Friday, and the pictures are beamed around the world, the Daily Mail reported.

She said the images showed Kate "fully topless" . The images are set to stir a royal privacy row, though St James's Palace has declined to comment. A royal source told the Daily Mail it was impossible to tell whether the photographs were genuine or show what the magazine claims. "We are having to wait and see what transpires."

The pictures of the duchess were clearly taken on private property using cameras with extremely long lenses, which meant no British newspaper would publish them, according to the Daily Mail.

The timing of the publication comes as the duchess and Prince William were in Malaysia, halfway through their tour on behalf of the Queen. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News