Anger ... Kate Middleton beach pictures published in Chi Magazine
PREGNANT Kate Middleton faced fresh anguish today after blundering This Morning bosses showed bikini photos of her bump which were published by an Italian magazine.
The snaps, which have been condemned by St James’s Palace, show Kate, 31, wearing a blue bikini and strolling with William on a beach on the island of Mustique.
The gaffe happened when Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were discussing the morning's newspaper headlines.
They were criticising Italy's Chi magazine - which published the pictures last night - and flashed up the cover of the rag on screens for three seconds.
Millions of people were able to see two pictures of the offending snaps as they were not blacked out.
Apology ... Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes
Holmes was then forced to make a grovelling apology on air.
Last night St James's Palace released a statement saying it was "very disappointed" and that the publication of the pictures was "a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy."
It is the latest blunder from under-fire This Morning bosses after host Phillip Schofield confronted Prime Minister David Cameron with a list of alleged paedophiles - which could be seen by viewers - on the show sparking outrage.
Names ... Phillip Schofield grasps list as co-host Holly Willoughby watches
Schofield inadvertently allowed the list - which contained among others, Lord McAlpine's name - to be seen by viewers.
It led to an apology from ITV and Schofield and the huge settlement with Lord McAlpine.
Last night the editor of an Australian magazine Woman’s Day defended her decision to print the photographs of Kate - as well as her sister Pippa - next week, saying her readers will “love” the images which cost her magazine £30,000.
Reports say publishers in the United States, France and Germany have also bought the set for more than £100,000 in total.
Error ... magazine as it appeared on screens today on This Morning. We have blacked out image of Kate
They had left the couple "disappointed".
The royal spokesman added: “We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published.”
The photos were reportedly taken from a boat using a long-lens camera.
But Fiona Connolly, editor of Woman’s Day, claimed a member of the public snapped the Duchess.
Editor ... Woman’s Day boss Fiona Connolly
Speaking to Australia’s Channel Nine network ahead of publishing the pictures in Monday’s edition of the magazine, Ms Connolly said: “This is not a hard decision about these photos. Kate’s on a public beach, there are other holiday-makers there and she looks fabulous.”
She made a distinction between the new pictures and those taken while Kate was topless on holiday in France last year as the latest ones were not taken at a private location.
Ms Connolly said: “Look, I think the British are very sensitive about this.
“As Australians, we see this every day. We see pregnant women in bikinis on the beach - and a public one at that - so we are a lot less sensitive here in Australia.”
After bidding throughout the day, Woman’s Day secured the right to publish them.
It is thought the mag, owned by the German-based Bauer Media Group, paid in excess of £30,000.
Fiona Connolly, editor of Woman’s Day, has not commented on the purchase of the pics.
Chi magazine last year provoked outrage from the Royal Family when it produced a 26-page spread showing the Duchess topless during a holiday in France.
Holiday ... Wills and Kate
The couple won a court battle with Chi’s publisher Mondadori — owned by sleazy former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi — after it ran pictures of Kate sunbathing topless last year.
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