The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be "saddened" by claims made by a French magazine that it will publish topless photographs of Kate today.

The royal couple broke new ground by touring a mosque for the first time during their tour of Malaysia, but all media attention was on speculation that another member of the Royal Family will be at the centre of embarrassing images.

Closer magazine has said it has exclusive pictures of Kate topless on the terrace of a guest house, taken during a brief holiday she enjoyed with William in France last week.