Publisher formally investigated over topless photos April 25, 2013 - 7:36AM "Grotesque" invasion of privacy: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. PARIS: The publisher of a French celebrity magazine has been placed under formal investigation for breach of privacy over the publication of topless pictures of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, a judicial source says. The photographer who took the pictures of the Duchess last northern summer and a regional daily were also put under investigation, the last step in France before being charged, the source said. In September Closer magazine, a weekly round-up of celebrity gossip, published a series of photos of the Duchess, the wife of Prince William, topless on holidays in southern France, something that incensed much of the British public. Buckingham Palace called the photo spread a "grotesque" invasion of the royal couple's privacy. The publisher of the magazine - the French branch of Italy's Mondadori - and the photographer were put under formal investigation earlier this month, the judicial source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Mondadori in a statement said the company "was not aware of any new developments in addition to what is already known on this matter." The regional daily La Provence, which published pictures of Prince William and his wife in swimwear during the same holiday, was put under formal investigation this week, the source said. An investigation does not necessarily lead to formal charges. The office of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge could not be reached for comment.