Prince William is known to be extremely protective of his wife, Princess Kate, especially when it comes to media intrusion.
According to royal author Robert Jobson in his book Catherine, the Princess of Wales, William’s protective instincts were most clearly seen in 2012, when a French magazine published topless photos of Kate that were secretly taken during a private holiday in Provence. Jobson wrote that William was furious and viewed the incident as a serious and unacceptable violation of privacy.
The author explains that from the very beginning of their relationship, William made it clear he would not tolerate the media crossing personal boundaries with Catherine. He believes it is his responsibility to step in and defend her whenever those lines are crossed.
Kate later won a legal case over the incident and was awarded €100,000 in damages. In a statement during the trial, William said he and Kate had chosen France because they believed their privacy would be respected, and described the way the photos were taken as deeply shocking.
Jobson also notes that William’s reaction is shaped by the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi in Paris. That experience has strongly influenced William’s determination to protect his wife and family from similar harm.
