Royal couple files criminal charges over French topless pics

PARIS (AFP) - Britain's royals went on the offensive on Monday with a criminal complaint lodged in Paris against the French gossip magazine that published topless photos of Prince William's wife Catherine.

The legal action came as an Italian magazine splashed the blurry pictures of Catherine sunbathing semi-naked across a special edition with a front-page headline that read: "The queen is nude!" The prosecutor's office in the Paris suburb Nanterre said it received the complaint against persons unknown by which the royal couple aim to win compensation for the images of Catherine and William at a French chateau.

The pair have said they want damages for the alleged breach of French privacy law from both weekly magazine Closer and from the photographer, whose identity the publication has not revealed. They are also seeking an injunction to prevent Closer - which is owned by Italian former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi - from re-selling the images of Catherine in bikini bottoms and of William rubbing suncream on her behind.

The injunction request, which would force Closer to withdraw Friday's edition from newsstands as well as barring further distribution, was to be considered at an emergency hearing from 1600 GMT (12am Singapore time) on Monday.