Kate Middleton topless photos taken by British photographer

The British snapper was reportedly commissioned by French Closer magazine to Camp out at William and Kate's holiday home

The photographer who took photos of Kate Middleton topless on holiday is British, a French paparazzi snapper has claimed.

Pascal Rostain says the pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing without her bikini top were taken on the orders of French Closer magazine, who sent the British photographer to camp out close to close to the picturesque holiday home.

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Rostain, a well known long-lens photographer, claims Closer chose a British snapper living in France for the task, sending him off to the holiday home where Prince William and Kate Middleton were relaxing.

He also says the photographer, who was first thought to have sold the images of Kate Middleton topless for thousands, was actually only paid his basic salary for completing the job.

'The irony of this whole thing is that the photographer who took these pictures is an Englishman living in the south of France,' Rostain told France Metro newspaper in Lyon.

'These photos were taken on the orders of Closer, who asked him to sit around for several days to take them.

'For his efforts he did not earn a lot. He could have sold them for 10,000 euros. But in fact he was just paid his wages for going to take them. He didn't put them on the open market either, where he could have earned a lot more.'

After winning a court ruling successfully banning French Closer from re-publishing or selling on the intimate photos, Kate Middleton's legal team are now thought to be considering mounting a case against the photographer.

But Rostain has defended the snapper in question, explaining it's up to the magazine whether the pictures are used or not, not the photographer.

'As a photographer, I take the pictures I want and let the publication decide whether to print them,' he said.

'What they choose to print is not the photographer's problem, but the editor's.'

Despite being ordered to hand back all the original photos, and pay some of Prince William and Kate Middleton's court costs, editor of French Closer, Laurence Pieau, has defended her decision to publish the photos.

'These photos are not in the least shocking. They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like millions of women you see on beaches,' she said.

She also hinted that even more intimate pictures of the royal couple exist, but said her magazine would not be printing them.

'Intimate pictures exist that we haven't published and will not publish,' she added. 'Probably other newspapers will choose to publish them.'

What do you think of the latest revelation in the Kate Middleton topless photos saga? Should the photographer to took the pictures be prosecuted? Should William and Kate take further legal action? Let us know in the comments box below…

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