Publisher, photographer probed for publishing topless photos of Kate PARIS, April 25 (UPI) -- French officials said they are investigating two employees of Closer magazine who allegedly published topless pictures of Kate, the duchess of Cambridge. Closer published the pictures, which were taken during a private holiday in France, in September. Officials said they are investigating Ernesto Mauri, the head of publishing company Mondadori, and Valerie Suau, a photographer, for invasion of privacy. Suau has denied she took any topless pictures, the BBC said, and magazine representatives have argued that photos were taken from a public road and were not offensive. The duke and duchess of Cambridge launched legal proceedings after the photos were published, and a Paris court then banned Closer from republishing the images and ordered the magazine to hand over the original photographs within 24 hours.