Winslet wins fight with Sun over family privacy

Miss Winslet, 37, was speaking yesterday after a High Court judge said a tabloid newspaper could not print “innocent but embarrassing” photographs of her husband Ned RocknRoll, 34.

The Sun argued that publication of the “semi-naked photos” was justified because Mr RocknRoll – who changed his name from Abel Smith and is a nephew of tycoon Sir Richard Branson – is a “public figure”.

But Mr Justice Briggs ruled against newspaper bosses following a two-day hearing at the High Court in London. He said he would give reasons for his decision at a later date.

After the hearing, Miss Winslet and Mr RocknRoll issued a joint written statement.

“We have stopped The Sun from publishing semi-naked photos of Ned taken by a friend at a private 21st birthday party a few years ago,” said the statement.

“The photos are innocent but embarrassing and there is no reason to splash them across a newspaper. We recognise that in the internet age privacy is harder and harder to maintain. But we will continue to do what we can, particularly to protect Kate’s children from the results of media intrusion.

“We refuse to accept that her career means our family can’t live a relatively normal life.”

Mr RocknRoll was a marketing consultant and was “head of 
astronaut relations and marketing” for Sir Richard’s Virgin Galactic business, which promotes space travel, before taking up sheep farming, the judge was 
told.