Meghan Markle's sexy pics prove Kate was 'WRONG to get £92k topless photos payout'

Lawyers for magazine Closer accused Kate and Prince William of “ridiculous hypocrisy” after they received the “outrageous” compensation sum when other members of the Royal Family are “happy with sexy photos".

Counsel for the celebrity magazine said younger members of the royals were acting like celebrities, which invited the same media scrutiny received by sports stars and celebrities.

A legal source said: “They are happy with sexy photos of themselves when they are in control, but then claim huge amounts of money when they’re unauthorised.

“There’s ridiculous hypocrisy involved, and the outrageous compensation figure reflects this.”

The long-lens images of a topless Kate, taken as she holidayed with her husband Prince William in the south of France, were splashed on the front and inside pages of France's Closer in September 2012.

They showed the duchess sunbathing in Provence on the terrace of a private chateau owned by Viscount Linley, the Queen's nephew, and ran alongside an article about the loved-up pair entitled "Oh my God!".

The royal couple were awarded £92,000 in compensation following a tense court battle.

Paul-Albert Iweins, lawyer for Closer, said the fine had been “exaggerated for a simple privacy matter’.

Fines in France usually amount to a token ‘principle’ sum at around less than £100.

Now lawyers will use images of the Duchess of Sussex pictured in skimpy underwear as evidence to prove female members of the Royal Family use steamy photo shoots to promote themselves.

Meghan Markle, 36, posed for several steamyphoto shoots during her acting career before she married Prince Harry.

In one video entitled ‘Grilling Never Looked So Hot With Meghan Markle’ for Men’s Health in 2013, the US royal can be seen removing her shirt for the cameras before posing in short shorts while grilling hamburgers.

Closer will appeal the payout in the Versailles Appeal Court, west of Paris, on Wednesday.