Why Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Ski Vacation with Their Kids Could Lead to Legal Action

The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly took Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis skiing during their school break

Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George on Dec. 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

Kate Middleton and Prince William recently spent time on the slopes with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, but will their private family vacation lead to a lawsuit?

The Prince and Princess of Wales were photographed skiing in the French Alps earlier this month with George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, in photos obtained by Paris Match and Page Six. The children all attend the Lambrook School near their Windsor home, and the family’s snowy getaway took place during a school break.

However, The Telegraph reports that outlets could face legal action by Prince William, 42, and Princess Kate, 43, for publishing photos captured during the family’s private time. According to the outlet, no formal complaint has been made, but The Telegraph points out how the royal couple highly value their privacy when spending time off-duty as a family.

Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024.OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

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The royal couple previously considered legal action against French magazines when outlets published topless photos of Kate taken during a 2012 vacation in the country. The topless images were published in Closer, and the newspaper La Provence also printed photos from the same trip, though Kate was wearing a swimsuit in those images.

The couple was staying at the private home of Queen Elizabeth’s nephew, Viscount David Linley. William said in a statement, “My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy.”

The palace issued a statement at the time, calling the publication of the images “unjustifiable.”

“Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner,” the spokesman said. “The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to The Duke and Duchess for being so,” the statement continued. “Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them.”

The spokesman also said that the royal family was considering legal action against the publications, and Closer was fined by French authorities. A court later found the publication guilty of an invasion of privacy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have always drawn a line between their public and private lives, but it took on extra importance last year amid Kate’s cancer treatment. Princess Kate was outside of the public eye for most of last year after sharing in March 2024 that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

“It is really impressive how they are still able to command all this secrecy,” royal historian Amanda Foreman told PEOPLE exclusively last year. “They are totally running this.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London.Samir Hussein/WireImage

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The Prince and Princess of Wales share an affinity for a sporty lifestyle and seem to be passing their passion onto their kids. The royal couple have brought their children to the French Alps since they were babies and reportedly took their kids skiing after Christmas in December 2024.

“There were no airs and graces, and actually, they seemed like any normal family enjoying a ski break. There were lots of laughs, and the children were very polite,” an onlooker told The Mail on Sunday.

“Kate looked like she was having a lovely time,” they added.

That ski trip reportedly happened before the Princess of Wales announced on Jan. 14 that she was in “remission” from cancer.

While some wondered if her return to royal work would be limited and largely alongside Prince William, Kate defied expectations with a string of solo engagements at the start of the year and seems to have resumed public duties in full force.

“She is the MVP of the royal family, and no one knew when she was going to come back,” royal historian Amanda Foreman exclusively tells PEOPLE.

Princess Kate is also managing the expectations tied to her future role as Queen while balancing her health and family with William. The palace continues to exercise caution around her schedule, announcing her appearances closer to the time and emphasizing that her recovery remains her top priority.

Kate Middleton at the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at the Wellington Barracks in London on March 17, 2025.Chris Jackson/Getty

“She has been very good at managing expectations, and it’s wise for her to downplay it a bit because when she does more than people anticipated, it has a greater impact,” says royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, who runs the Substack Royals Extra. “It’s evident that she is feeling closer to 100% than one would have thought at this stage.”