Royal Family

A French court just put the kibosh on publication of the Kate Middleton topless pics, but the victory is kinda like plugging a dike which keeps springing leaks.

The court called the invasion of Kate and Prince William's privacy a "brutal display" and ordered Closer Magazine to immediately turn over all digital copies of the pics ... or else. The "or else" is a $13,100 daily fine.

Here's the problemo. The pics have also been published in Italy and Ireland and the ruling doesn't cover those magazines.

Prince William got an eyeful of boobies again, but they weren't attached to his wife Kate Middleton ... who was only topless-adjacent this time around.

YouPorn.com is offering unlimited money to the folks who own what appear to be sexual pics of Kate Middleton and Prince William.

TMZ obtained a letter, sent by the owner of YouPorn to the Editor of Closer Magazine -- which published the topless pics of Kate.

In the letter, YouPorn honcho Corey Price says he wants to buy the "intimate footage" the Closer Editor has been yakking about. Price writes, "We feel very confident that we can show this footage legally, and would like to make you aware that we have an 'open checkbook.'"

Kate Middleton and Prince William are hanging out in the Solomon Islands today -- this, as the Palace vows to get an injunction against an Italian mag, that's threatening to publish more than 200 topless pics of the Princess.

The Italian mag plans to unveil the photos in a 26-page spread Monday. But the Prince's legal team is on an International hunt to stop the dissemination of the photos ... showing Kate and William sunbathing on a balcony in a remote area of France.

Kate Middleton and hubby Prince William took their minds of the Duchess' topless photo scandal by scaling a giant tree yesterday during their trip to Sabah, Borneo.

The royal couple have been touring Southeast Asia, having previously visited Malaysia and Singapore.

An Italian gossip magazine will publish the famous Kate Middleton topless photos ... further inflaming the Royals.

Chi, owned by the same company that publishes French mag Closer (the first to publish the pics), will run a 26-page spread Monday. The headline -- "The Queen is Nude."

Editor Alfonso Signorni says he doesn't fear legal action -- Closer has already been sued -- because the photos are now part of public domain, adding, "I don't see anything morbid or damaging in them. Chi pays attention to respecting people's dignity. I don't think they hurt Kate's image."

Taliban insurgents -- the group that vowed to kill or kidnap Prince Harry -- attacked a British air base yesterday and killed soldiers ... just a stone's throw from where the royal is stationed in southern Afghanistan.

Taliban insurgents ambushed the British base with heavy weaponry -- mortars ... rockets ... grenades ... and firearms. Two U.S. marines stationed at the base were killed and others injured.

The base is adjacent to Camp Bastion, where Prince Harry is stationed on a four-month combat deployment. No word on where the Prince was when the attack occurred.

A Taliban spokesman said the attacks were motivated by Prince Harry's presence there, saying, "We attacked that base because Prince Harry was also on it and so they can know our anger. Thousands more suicide attackers are ready to give up their lives for the sake of the Prophet."

Britain's defense ministry says they have no plans to cut Harry's deployment short.

Halle Berry may be collateral damage in the publication of the Kate Middleton topless photos ... TMZ has learned.

Halle's lawyer has been trying to convince the judge in her custody battle with Gabriel Aubry ... Nahla is better off living in France with her mom because the paparazzi are more gentle and respectful of celebs.

Gabriel's lawyer had only one real piece of ammo to counter Halle's claim -- the paparazzi chasing Princess Diana to her death. But that happened 15 years ago. Now Gabriel's lawyers have new firepower -- the pics taken of Kate Middleton were by an intrusive photog who we're told used a telephoto lens to capture intimate shots of her on a secluded balcony.

We're told Gabriel's lawyer is aware of the new Kate photos and it's almost certain he'll raise the issue when the trial resumes.

The editor of the French magazine that ran topless photos of Kate Middleton is suggesting she has SEX PHOTOS of the Royal couple in her possession but has decided not to run them ... yet.

Closer editor Laurence Pieau revealed the bombshell today while defending her decision to publish the topless pics of Kate ... saying "I won't hide the fact that there are more intimate pictures that exist that we haven't published and will not publish. These images are full of joy, not degrading."

She didn't specifically say sex pics ... but she didn't have to. It's pretty clear what she meant.

So why would she even tell the public about the unseen "intimate" photos?

Kate Middleton and Prince William have declared war on the French magazine that published naked photos of the future Queen of England -- filing a lawsuit today against the publication.

A rep for St. James's Palace released a statement saying that "legal proceedings for breach of privacy have been commenced today in France" by the royal couple.

So far, it's unclear what relief they are seeking.

As we reported, the family had threatened legal action over the topless photos published today by France's Closer magazine, showing a topless Kate on vacation with Prince William recently.

Now, they've made good on their word.

Moments after the pic went public, the Royal Family issued a statement, claiming, "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."

For the magazine's part -- Closer's editor Laurence Pieau has spoken out, calling the media "hypocritical" for condemning her decision to run the pictures.

Kate Middleton is furious over the release of topless pics taken while on vacation with Prince William in France ... and now the Royal Family is threatening to sue someone's ass over it.

The pics -- published by the French magazine Closer -- show Kate taking off her bikini top while hanging out with William last week at a chateau owned by the Queen's nephew, Lord Linley.

Moments after the pic went public, the Royal Family issued a scathing statement ... saying "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."

In the statement, the Royal Fam said the incident is "reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales" ... who died in a car crash while fleeing from the paparazzi in France back in 1997.

The Royal statement continued, "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."

"Officials acting on behalf of their royal highnesses are consulting with lawyers to consider what options may be available to the Duke and Duchess."

"The Duke and Duchess remain focused currently on their tour of Singapore, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu on behalf of the Queen."

Closer magazine has a UK version as well, which IMMEDIATELY DISTANCED itself from its French counterpart, saying it would "like to make it clear that the two publications make entirely independent editorial decisions. In this respect the comments made by the Editor of the French edition which have reported in the media today do not reflect the opinions of Closer magazine UK."

"Closer magazine UK takes its obligations under the PCC Code extremely seriously and would never publish topless images of a member of the Royal family on its cover or otherwise."

Prince Harry is being targeted for death in Afghanistan ... so says a rep for the Taliban (yes, they have a rep).

Harry -- a helicopter pilot in the British military -- is currently on a 4 month tour in Afghanistan ... where he is reportedly fighting Taliban insurgents on the front lines.

Obviously, his presence has pissed off the Taliban ... and now terrorist spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tells Reuters the group has made it a top priority to kill or kidnap the Prince.

"We are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping," Mujahid said during a phone interview either conducted in a cave ... or a suburb in Pakistan.

During the interview, Mujahid referred to the Taliban plans as the "Harry Operations" ... added, "We have informed our commanders in Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him."

Prince Harry has been shipped out to Afghanistan to begin a 4-month combat tour for the British military ... but the Royal Family INSISTS the move is not a punishment for his naked exploits in Vegas.

The 27-year-old arrived today at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan ... and according to reports, he will begin work as an Apache co-pilot and gunner within 10 days.

A rep for the military released a statement saying, "Captain Wales is a serving soldier and a qualified Apache pilot having completed the Apache Conversion to Role course earlier this year."

"As such, and after further flying experience, he has deployed along with the rest of the squadron as part of a long-planned and scheduled deployment to provide support to ISAF and Afghan forces operating in Helmand."

The spokesperson adds, "Prince Harry's time in Las Vegas was his last break before the frontline."

Kate Middleton's second cousin once (clothing) removed Katrina Darling is following in Prince Harry's X-rated footsteps and getting naked for the camera too.

Katrina -- who as of earlier this year hadn't ever met the Duchess of Cambridge -- was barely dressed as the Statue of Liberty and once again brought her risque burlesque performance to a NYC club on Wednesday.

Spotted: A bunch of Prince Harry wannabes in cheap paper masks

Location: Encore Beach Club in Vegas ... the same hotel where the REAL Prince Harry got naked with a bunch of chicks last month.