Rex Features apologises for Kate Middleton photo

London Photography agency Rex Features  has issued an apology and paid £5.000 in damages around a picture taken of Kate Middleton . the girlfriend of Prince William . The picture was taken on a private holiday and published despite a request by the Royal family not to publish it. The statement on the Rex Features site starts:

On 24 and 25 December 2009 a photographer not employed by Rex Features followed and took photographs of Kate Middleton and her family during the course of a private holiday in Cornwall. Rex Features subsequently syndicated a number of the photographs for publication in the foreign media. via Rex Features – Photographic press agency and picture library.

The company says it did not know at the time that an infringement of privacy had occured but now accepts this is was the case. Rex Features also says it will not syndicate any further pictures of Kate Middleton, who will donate the damages to charity.