Who is ultimately to blame for the Catherine Cambridge topless photos? We are

For the last few days I've read plenty of articles deploring the coverage of Catherine Cambridge's topless photos. Some vehemently blame the photographer and the publication, others blame Catherine for daring to sunbathe topless. I have yet to see an article blaming us too.

Now a lawsuit from William and Catherine for invasion of privacy because they feel that they had a 'reasonable expectation of privacy'.  Yes, they do have an expectation of privacy. They deserve it. But it's unfortunate that with the level of media interest in Kate and the fact that there are cameras everywhere, that expectation has become naive at best. 

Should she have kept her top on? Yes. If you're in a sanctimonious mood, you could say she she is a future queen and it's undignified. Point taken. Catherine does not lead the life she did before and she's fooling herself to think otherwise. Neither William nor Catherine can afford to become complacent. Given that any vacation they've taken, including their honeymoon, has been invaded by a photographer's lens, they should know better. It was inevitable that this vacation would be too. But the photographs from the other vacations seem to be OK. Justified in some way because they were in public, because what they do is of interest. Yet, these same arguments do not apply to this instance. Why? Because Catherine is topless.  If she wasn't topless, there would be no uproar. In fact, we'd probably be discussing designer of the bathing suit she was wearing and where we can buy it. Then it would be OK. Even though it is the same location, same photographer and same camera lens used.

I don't condone the topless photos. I don't condone any photos of Catherine taken outside of her royal duties. Why? Because if she deserves privacy sunbathing topless, she should also deserve it when she walks her dog, strolls on the beach, gets her hair done or shops for groceries. Justify those instances and we have created a slippery slope that leads to these photos.

This situation has been compared to the harassment Diana endured until her death. Why? Because those of us around at the time wanted more. Even going on a private vacation didn't deter photographers. Did she deserve privacy? Yes, she was no longer royal. Cut free from the expectations of royal duty, she no longer owed us anything. But we still wanted it, in one form or another until the we strangled the golden goose with our insatiable interest. Blame the drunk driver, but who was he trying to escape from? Our desire for Diana's image. 15 years later, the only thing that has changed is the subject.

The interest in Catherine is understandable, but it has consequences. The photographer would not have taken those photos, the publications would not buy or publish them if there wasn't interest. Make a story out of what she buys for dinner or a scar on her head, or the shoes she wears and it creates an insatiable appetite for more. Who wants more? We do.

Continue to blame the photographer, the publication and Catherine. We deserve some of the blame too. 

 © Marilyn Braun 2012

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Catherine Cambridge shouldn't be shocked, she should be resigned

Oh dear!

Topless photos of Kate Middleton/Catherine Cambridge have been published!

Shock, horror and the royal couple are 'saddened and disappointed'.

Seriously, I'm starting to get tired of the complaining.

I didn't always think this way. I used to get just as incensed as the next person about the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Now I'm no longer surprised. And in all honesty, Kate shouldn't be surprised either.

Much like putting up with  being called Kate Middleton for the rest of her life, photos taken in private moments seem to be inevitable. Honeymoon, holidays, walking on the beach, it's all fodder for what she does and what she wears. She signed up for a life of being in the public eye. She just saw what happened to Prince Harry and his photos. Regardless of whether it invaded his privacy, the nude photos became a story for a few days until Harry magically became a hero by stepping on a plane to Afghanistan. Catherine take note.

Catherine is holding her head high and putting on her brave face. What choice does she have? Shying away doesn't change anything.  She may even get an award for it. Since her marriage, people are  interested in every single aspect of her life. From her pantyhose, to her hair, to the groceries she buys, to drinking water instead of wine, to her shoes, to a scar on her head. No detail is too minute to feed an insatiable appetite. Would media outlets really publish these photos if there wasn't some sort of demand for them?

It's very clear that the media has learnt absolutely nothing from what happened to Diana. Nothing has changed and with cameras at every turn, it's only going to get worse. Catherine would be naive to think otherwise.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

 Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.