Kate Middleton wins apology for tennis court photos

Kate Middleton today won the first round in a battle with the paparazzi after securing a public apology over pictures of her playing tennis on Christmas Day.

Prince William's girlfriend will also receive £5,000 in damages for breach of privacy, plus legal costs, from Rex Features, which distributed the photos taken at Restormel Manor in Cornwall.

The lawsuit was launched by Harbottle and Lewis, who also represent the Queen and Prince Charles. Restormel Manor is owned by Charles's Duchy of Cornwall, but can be hired by the public.

Miss Middleton, 28, was photographed on its communal tennis courts and sources claimed she appeared unperturbed about having her picture taken.

Photographer Niraj Tanna said he was on a public footpath. The pictures were not published in the UK as media organisations responded to a Buckingham Palace request for privacy over Christmas, but they did appear in Germany.

Harbottle and Lewis threatened to sue Mr Tanna, his photography company, Ikon Pictures, and Rex Features, which distributed the photographs overseas.

In a statement on its website today, the agency says: "Although at the time Rex Features did not know that an infringement of privacy had occurred, we now accept that this was the case and that by distributing the photographs we were a party to that invasion of privacy." It is thought the damages will be donated to charity.

The potential legal action against Mr Tanna and Ikon Pictures remains pending in what some observers believe is an attempt to deter paparazzi from taking similar pictures of the royal family.