Duke and Duchess find islands haven far from storm over topless pictures

Riding in a symbolic war canoe along palm-tree lined roads and with a garland of flowers around their necks William and Kate appeared a world away from the furore over the publication of the Duchess’s topless photos.

From an open-topped Toyota van decorated to look like a fearsome war vessel they waved and smiled back at the crowds who stood five deep in places.

Meanwhile, in England the royal couple’s officials were busy preparing their legal case for damages against the publishers of the French magazine Closer which first printed the images.

The controversy took a new twist when the publishers of a tabloid paper, which became the second journal to use the 
images, both denied they had given the go-ahead for the intimate pictures of Kate to be printed.

Northern and Shell and Independent News and Media, who own the Irish Daily Star, have denied prior knowledge of publication of the pictures in the paper’s Republic of Ireland edition, and expressing regret.

But Italian gossip magazine Chi promises to print a 26-page special edition next week featuring the images.