The paparazzi shots, which show a pregnant Kate and husband Prince William outside the office of royal obstetrician Alan Farthing on Friday night, were offered to the UK press but turned down reportedly because of fears they would be chastised by the palace for violating the couple’s privacy.
The images follow what was presumably Kate’s 12-week scan and according to The Daily Beast the Daily Express’ royal reporter commented: “Our head of news and news editor feel there is nothing more private than a woman going for a pregnancy scan, if that is what was happening.”
But the UK press is believed to be none too pleased that American outlets ran the images, which included Kate happily cradling her baby bump and William carrying a white envelope believed to have details about royal bub No.2.
Although the pictures were snapped on a public street and no laws appear to have been broken in attaining them, the choice to opt out of publishing them is another sign the UK media seems to be walking on eggshells when it comes to royal coverage.
Of late the palace has been allegedly cracking down on royal reporting with one photographer reportedly sent a cease and desist order after being spotted shooting Prince George in a public park last week.
One source says that while the palace does not explicitly reprimand media outlets for publishing unauthorised photos of the royals, officials will make it difficult for those who consistently overstep the mark to have access to the monarchy.
Kate has already endured her fair share of photo scandals including topless photos of her on vacation with Prince William in 2012.
The semi-nude sunbathing photos appeared in French tabloid Closer which at the time prompted a stern statement from the palace which condemned the pictures as a “grotesque and totally unjustifiable” invasion of privacy.
The palace also said the 2012 pictures were reminiscent of the “worst excesses of the press and paparazzi” and slammed them for appearing in a publication from the same country where William’s mother, Princess Diana, was killed in a car crash fleeing photographers.
The pregnant Duchess has been out of the spotlight in recent weeks following the palaces announcement she is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of chronic morning sickness the 32-year-old also endured during her pregnancy with Prince George.
If these recent shots indeed were taken in the moments after an ultrasound visit, the public can expect the palace to make an announcement soon about the Kate’s due date.
