A French court banned the spread of nude photos of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, that sparked widespread controversy late last week, according to the BBC.

Several European publications, including French magazine Closer, Irish newspaper The Daily Star, and Italian magazine Chi, published paparazzi photos taken of the topless Middleton while the royal heir was sunbathing in France, sparking the royal family's anger.

The French court's decision prohibits the Mondadori media group, owner of both Closer and Chi, from distributing the photos in print and online, according to French newspaper Le Monde.

The family also said it will sue the photographer responsible for taking the photos, while a French prosecutor has already opened a preliminary criminal investigation into the photos, Le Monde reported.

Middleton, through her marriage to Prince William, is in line to become the future Queen of England.