Photographer behind topless pics of Catherine "unlikely to face sanction"

PARIS (AFP) - The photographer who took pictures of Prince William's wife Catherine topless is unlikely to face any sanction despite moves by Britain's royals to have him or her hauled before the French courts, legal experts say.

William and the former Kate Middleton on Monday initiated criminal proceedings under French privacy law as well as seeking an injunction to prevent further distribution of the pictures by France's Closer magazine.

The injunction request was due to be considered at an emergency hearing scheduled for 1600 GMT (12am Singapore time) on Monday.

No defendant was named in the criminal complaint but aides to the royal couple have said they want action taken against both Closer, which published the pictures on Friday, and the photographer who used a powerful telephoto lens to snap them poolside during a short break at a chateau in southern France earlier this month.