Kate Middleton’s paparazzi trial, involving the 2012 publication of topless photographs taken of her, included a statement from her husband Prince William, who referred to the scandal as "painful."
In a statement read by his lawyer in court, William said the photographs were an invasion of his and his wife’s privacy while they were away in Provence, France, for vacation, staying "in a secluded villa," according to People magazine.
"The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy," Williams’ statement said, according to BBC News.
"My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy," William said.
The prince compared the scandal with what his mother, the late Princess Diana, experienced years ago. He said harassment by the paparazzi led to the car crash back in 1997 that killed his mother, People magazine noted.
"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," the St. James Palace spokesperson said.
According to BBC News, the topless images were taken by two Paris-based agency photographers, Cyril Moreau and Dominique Jacovides, both of whom have denied taking the long-lens pictures.
There are four others on trial in the case as well – Laurence Pieau, an editor for Closer magazine, which is where the photos were published; Ernesto Mauri, chief executive of the Mondadori group; La Provence photographer Valerie Suau; and Marc Auburtin, Closer’s former publishing director.
According to the Telegraph, William and Kate’s attorney is demanding that the royal couple receive $1.9 million in damages.
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