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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Will, Kate made the call to take topless photo gripe to court

Britain's Prince William left wife Kate Duchess Cambridge right  pose for phoHoniarSolomIslands  Sunday Sept. 16 2012.

Britain's Prince William, left, and wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, right, pose for a photo in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Sunday Sept. 16, 2012. The royal couple is on a nine-day tour of the Far East and South Pacific in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. (AP Photo/William West, Pool)

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Updated: October 18, 2012 6:18AM



There apparently was quite a debate within the palace inner circle about whether to file suit in France over the publication of those topless photos of Prince William’s wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Royal sources tell me it was William and Kate themselves who demanded the lawsuit be filed, supported by a number of advisers who won over other aides who had counseled the royal couple to simply ignore the privacy breach.

“The duke and duchess were outraged and felt a stand had to be made,” one source said, quoting an angry William as declaring, “This is where we must draw a line in the sand.” The prince was calling from Southeast Asia, where the couple have been on an official tour — part of the yearlong celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee.

† While the couple’s wishes were followed and the royal attorneys filed suit against Closer, the French magazine that published the photos — and will make a criminal complaint Monday in France against the photographer — I’ve also been told Duchess Catherine has been gently reminded that whenever she’s outside, even in the garden or pool area of a private estate, she should assume the paparazzi’s lens is focused on her. “Sadly, it’s just a fact of life she will have to always face,” added the source.

† Also expected is the publication of those photos in an Italian magazine owned by controversial ex-Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. While Berlusconi himself often complained about paparazzi intrusion to his very public extra-marital flings, it’s said he’s happy to zap Catherine. Seems Berlusconi feels he was often snubbed by various members of the British royal family.

† As if the sleaze factor about the topless Kate photos weren’t creepy enough, TMZ is reporting the YouPorn.com site is offering an “open checkbook” to the Closer editor for other images of William and Kate reportedly revealing the couple engaged in “intimate” activity.

ROMANTIC RUMBLING: “The X Factor” judge Demi Lovato is said to be back with on-again-off-again beau Wilmer Valderrama.

TV TALK: “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal is forging ahead with a reality show. The concept has Rosenthal traveling the globe with famous chefs who take him to favorite restaurants in major cities. The pilot includes Thomas Keller shepherding Rosenthal through London — joined by some of Keller’s best chef friends in the British capital.

Tom Hanks and Bill O’Reilly are opposites politically, but Hanks will narrate the National Geographic Channel’s two-hour special based on O’Reilly’s Killing Lincoln book about the conspiracy behind Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Billy Campbell plays Lincoln and Jesse Johnson plays John Wilkes Booth.

SEEN ON THE SCENE: O.A.R. drummer Chris Culos and NASCAR driver Casey Mears double-dated with their wives at Nellcote the other night — chowing down on Neapolitan pizzas. … To toast the theme of Saturday’s Green Tie Ball, Pete Wentz wore a green skull vest, while girlfriend Meagan Camper sported an Alexis Bittar green ring. Wentz’s hot DJ-ing wowed the crowd of 3,000 at the always popular fete, which included Roe Conn, Alexi Giannoulias, Corri McFadden, Grant DePorter and Eric Himel. … Actress Ali Larter, during her recent Chicago visit, was spied dining at Gibsons with her father-in-law, Bruce MacArthur. … Fans of former Chicagoan Gayle Ritt were happy to see the singer back in town from her Oregon home — singing at the House of Blues Foundation Room on Friday and belting out the national anthem at Saturday’s Cubs game.





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