Kate Middleton & Prince William's Invasion Of Privacy Case Upheld In French Court

Prince William and Kate Middleton are the victors in their legal battle against a French magazine.

The Prince and Princess of Wales filed a lawsuit against Paris Match Magazine after the outlet shared invasive pictures of their family's vacation in the Alps.

The invasion-of-privacy lawsuit isn't the first time Prince William and Kate Middleton have taken legal action against the media for overstepping boundaries.

According to new reports, a French Court has found Paris Match Magazine guilty of invading the privacy of Prince William and Kate during their family vacation in April. The outlet has publicized pictures of the couple skiing with their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Ms. Sandrine Gil, President of the First Chamber of the Nanterre Court, ruled in September that the magazine had invaded the royals' privacy and infringed on their image rights. The magazine was ordered to cover William and Kate's legal costs and publish a judicial notice.

PEOPLE reported that the magazine has carried out these orders. The lawsuit wasn't the first time William and Kate had taken legal action against the media, as they pursued a case in 2012 after an outlet publicized pictures of the Princess of Wales sunbathing in Southern France.

A spokesperson for the couple addressed their victory in a statement, explaining that the lawsuit wasn't necessary to protect their family's privacy.

The rep slammed the publicized pictures as "grossly intrusive," stressing that outside their royal duties, the Wales family deserved their privacy, especially their three children.

"The Prince and Princess of Wales are committed to protecting their private family time and ensuring that their children can grow up without undue scrutiny and interference," the spokesperson declared. They added that William and Kate would not hesitate to file another lawsuit if a similar situation were to occur.

When Kate's topless pictures were publicized in 2012, the palace issued a similar statement condemning the "unjustifiable" invasion of her privacy. The statement slammed the French media for their "grotesque" behavior, comparing it to the treatment the late Princess Diana received.

Following the release of pictures capturing his family's time in the Alps, The Blast shared that a source claimed Prince William was displeased with the publication. They explained the family had paid for a private experience, only to have shutterbugs cross their boundaries.

"William's temper is really boiling over this one, so no one will be all that surprised if he does take action," the source claimed. They slammed the French media for their "totally unacceptable" invasion of privacy, pointing out that William did not joke with the safety of his wife and kids.

William and Kate, along with their three children, had chosen to relax and ski in France during the spring school break. The Prince of Wales also killed two birds with one stone by using the occasion to attend an Aston Villa match, showcasing his love for football.

Earlier this month, The Blast reported that William was featured in an episode of Eugene Levy's Apple TV+ show, "The Reluctant Traveler." They discussed several topics, including the ever-invasive media, with the future King declaring he would not let history repeat itself.

William reflected on how challenging and traumatic it was growing up surrounded by negative articles about his late mother, Princess Diana, and his father, King Charles. He explained that reporters were ruthless during his parents' divorce, claiming they invaded every part of their lives.

After such a traumatic experience, William stressed that he would not allow his children to endure similar treatment from the media. He noted that he was fiercely protective of their privacy and safety, vowing that anyone who crossed the line would have to answer to him.

Besides butting heads with a French magazine for privacy invasion, William and Kate faced backlash for allegedly creating homelessness. The Blast covered the drama in August, noting that it stemmed from a misunderstanding about the couple's relocation to Forest Lodge.

A media outlet reported that two families had been asked to vacate their cottages next to the Waleses' new home. The headline led some to believe William and Kate had forcefully kicked these families out of their homes and accused them of creating homelessness.

However, the narrative changed when it was revealed that these families had been renting the cottages from the Crown Estate. Their homes were originally the Forest Lodge's stables before being converted into cottages.

Will Prince William and Kate Middleton's victory caution other outlets from taking invasive pictures?