Kate Middleton Photo Controversy: 'Closer' Mag Ordered to Pay Fine, Hand Photos Over to Royal Fam

France's "Closer" magazine, the first tabloid to publish the intimate, topless pics of Kate Middleon, has been ordered by a French court not to print or distribute any more copies of the issue-in-question (including online) and to pay a fine of $2,600. The court also ruled that the original photographs of the exposed Duchess of Cambridge should promptly be handed over to the royal family, so that the mass-publication of such private images may soon come to an end.

For those of you still interested in viewing some of the Middelton "indecently exposed" photos in-question - click here.

The French court made their ruling against "Closer" magazine on Tuesday - the issue that featured the topless Middleton pics was released on Friday (Sept. 14). The photos are to be returned to the royal family within 24 hours of the hearing - if the publication does not do so, it will be forced to pay approximately $10,000 each additional day the pictures are not turned over. According to the Nanterre Prosecutor's Office, a French prosecutor has also opened a preliminary criminal investigation to look further into the incident.

Following the release of the Middleton topless photos, the royal family had promptly filed a criminal complaint seeking invasion of privacy charges against "Closer." A royal insider also claims the family would also possibly seek charges against the photographer.

In a civil court preceding that took place in Paris on Monday, lawyers who represent the royals asked for damages and a court order to prevent the photos from being published again.

Since "Closer" first debuted the Middleton pics, two other tabloid magazines, the "Irish Daily Star" and Italy's "Chi," have also come under fire for going ahead and printing the seedy photos. The royal family hopes to seek further court injunctions against the publications, so that the Middleton photos may no longer be published or shared either online or in hard copy.