French magazine Closer just published some photos of Kate Middleton sunbathing topless while "staying at the French chateau of the Queen's nephew, Lord Linley — making it now two royal nudie picture scandals in three weeks. Click though for some NSFW scans.

The photographer who shot them apparently tried to sell them in England, but no one in the British media — which tend to avoid embarrassing the royals for fear of having their access cut off — would bite. Closer did, and published the pics today:

On the magazine's website, it says the pictures are of the couple "like you have never seen them before. Gone are the fixed smiles and the demure dresses. On holiday Kate forgets everything."

(You have to say it in a French accent to really get the full effect.)

According to the BBC, the couple, who learned about the photos while in Malaysia yesterday, is considering the possibility of bringing a lawsuit against the photographers or the magazine, and the British press is up in arms — The Telegraph calls the paparazzi "grinning perverts." All in all, though, isn't this the classy way to have your privacy invaded? Instead of, you know, being surreptitiously photographed by a fellow nude billiards player?

Here are some scans from the magazine. Egotastic has the rest:

Update: Here's the statement from the Duke and Duchess, via a spokesperson:

"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. The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to The Duke and Duchess for being so. 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."

[BBC, Egotastic; top left image via AP]