Kate Middleton attracted a lot of press attention even before she married Prince William. When she was still a royal girlfriend, she often appeared in the tabloids due to her connection to the crown.
In 2007, Kate reportedly lost her temper when dealing with a swarm of paparazzi. Newspapers subsequently decided to ban photos of her from publication.
Kate Middleton dealt with paparazzi before becoming a duchess
Kate reportedly began dating William in 2003 when they were both students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The couple had some privacy from the media when they were still in school.
However, after they graduated in 2005 and Kate moved to London, she started getting followed by paparazzi. Photographers often waited for Kate outside her home, and they also followed her to and from work.
Because Kate was only a girlfriend, she could not receive tax-funded security in the same way a royal wife could. As a result, William and other palace aides tried to help her by setting up a “hotline” she could call for assistance.
“She was obviously the subject of a lot of press interest and intrusion from the paparazzi,” one source told writer Katie Nicholl in the book Kate: The Future Queen (via Stylecaster). “William said we had a duty of care to her and her family and so we advised her on how to deal with the cameras. We told her to smile at the photographers so that there would be a better picture. She was given advice on how to manage the media, and we were there to support her if there was a crisis.”
Newspapers banned Kate Middleton’s paparazzi pictures after she ‘seemed almost to lose her temper’
In January 2007, Kate celebrated her 25th birthday. On this day, however, she was met with a swarm of paparazzi. Author Kate Shoup described this in her book, Kate Middleton: From Commoner to Duchess of Cambridge.
“By the morning of her birthday, on January 9 2007, hundreds of photographers had mobbed her doorstop, all hoping for a pre-engagement photo,” Shoup wrote, as reported by Express. “Due to work, Kate emerged from her flat and made for her car, whereupon she was swarmed by the press.”
Shoup added, “As noted by journalist Vicky Ward: ‘It was the first and only time in her relationship with Prince William that the young woman seemed almost to lose her temper. Her usual smile was replaced by tightly closed lips, and her bluish-hazel eyes were stormy.’”
Later that month, News International, which owned tabloid newspapers such as The Sun and News of the World, decided to stop printing paparazzi photos of Kate.
“We have imposed a ban on all News International publications printing paparazzi photos of Kate Middleton,” a spokesperson for the group said, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for William shared, “What Prince William wants more than anything else is for the paparazzi to stop harassing her.”
Kate Middleton’s topless photos in 2012 were also barred from publication
In 2021, a year after joining the royal family, Kate dealt with another huge invasion of her privacy. While she and William were vacationing at a secluded chateau in France, a paparazzo took photos of Kate sunbathing topless.
The paparazzo sold the photos to French tabloid newspaper Closer. The royal family took swift action to stop the photos from being circulated by suing the outlet.
“Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner,” a statement released by St. James’ Palace read.
It also added, “Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them.”
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