Prince William left 'furious' after Donald Trump 'blamed Princess Kate for scandal'

The incident took place when the newlyweds were holidaying in Provence, France in 2012 and a member of the paparazzi took long-lens photographs of the princess topless as she sunbathed on the balcony of their chateau.

It was the couple’s first major altercation with the press and their representatives had to spring into action to prevent the publication of the photographs.

At the time, a royal spokesperson said the Prince and Princess of Wales were hugely saddened over the "grotesque and unjustifiable invasion of privacy" by a magazine which published topless photos of Kate.

French publication Closer, which printed the pictures of the duchess, responded by saying the couple were "visible from the street" and the images were "not in the least shocking".

It was eventually ruled a breach of the couple’s privacy and those involved were fined.

However, it did not stop the widespread circulation of the photographs and commentary on their content.

Robert Jobson wrote in his new book: "William was reportedly furious when Donald Trump tweeted, ‘Kate Middleton is great – but she shouldn’t be sunbathing in the nude – only herself to blame.

"Who wouldn’t take Kate’s picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing? Come on Kate!’"

Jobson added: "The entire affair had left the duchess feeling ‘violated’."

At the time, the BBC's Nicholas Witchell said that the royals were "incredulous that any magazine would have felt they had a justification in publishing these pictures".

"They could go to law or seek a remedy through the French court - that is a big step to take but that is clearly what is being considered now," he said.

"I have rarely heard quite such a level of publicly expressed anger that I have heard today reflecting William's feelings.

"He is absolutely determined to protect the privacy of his wife; he has always been very protective of her and that anger has mounted during the day."

Closer editor Laurence Pieau said: "These photos are not in the least shocking. They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches."

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She described the reaction as "a little disproportionate".

"What we saw in the pictures was a young couple that have just got married, who are in love, who are beautiful. She's a princess of the 21st Century," said Pieau.

"They [the couple] are on the terrace of a mansion in the south of France which is not far from a road along which cars pass without any problem. They are visible from the street."