Italian magazine to publish topless Kate pix

[September 15, 2012]  ROME (AP) -- An Italian gossip magazine owned by former Premier Silvio Berlusconi says it plans to publish topless photos of Prince William's wife Kate.

Chi is part of Berlusconi's publishing house Mondadori, which also owns Closer, the French magazine that published the pictures first -- and was immediately hit with a lawsuit by the royal couple alleging privacy violations. The photos are the first to show Britain's likely future queen with her bosom exposed.

Chi said it plans to publish a 26-page spread with photos on Monday. The cover was unveiled Saturday in Italian newspapers and television under the headline "The Queen is Nude."

In an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, editor Alfonso Signorini said he didn't fear legal action and that the photos were tasteful and "don't hurt Kate's image."

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.