French Tabloid ‘Closer’ Removes Topless Photos Of Kate Middleton From Website, While Duchess Remains Unfazed By Scandal

Duchess Kate Middleton appeared as poised as ever in the midst of her nude photo scandal. The royal continued to tour the Far East with husband Prince William as part of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and was all smiles in a demure periwinkle blue Temperley London dress during a tea party at the British High Commission in Malaysia - while royal officials were steadfast in filing a lawsuit against French tabloid "Closer."

"Closer" editor Laurence Pieau told Agence France-Press on Friday that he fully supported the release of the racy photographs.

"These photos are not in the least shocking," he said. "They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches."

 The controversy over the photographs are "disproportionate," he debated. "It is a young couple that has just been married. They are in love. They are beautiful. She is the princess of the 21st century."

Pieau went on to describe the photos, which were reportedly shot with a long lens as "full of joy," and "not degrading."

Just mere hours later, the magazine decided to remove a series of photographs of a topless Kate Middleton from their website, releasing a statement that read:

"Following comments received after the publication of photos of Kate and William in Closer magazine France, we would like to make the following clarifications: This is the French edition of Closer and not the English edition. The photos we chose are by no means degrading. They show a young couple on vacation, beautiful, in love, living a normal life. The article reports that the couple recently vacationed in the south of France."

"St. James' Palace confirms that legal proceedings for breach of privacy have been commenced today in France by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge against the publishers of Closer Magazine France," a palace rep said Thursday.