This Morning Kate mag apology

The editor of the Italian magazine Chi, which is the second publication to publish pictures of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, has defended his decision.

Alfonso Signorini told the BBC:

This Morning has apologised after accidentally showing an uncensored cover of the Italian magazine that pictured a pregnant Duchess of Cambridge in a bikini on holiday on the private Caribbean island of Mustique.

A statement was read out by host Eamonn Holmes later in the programme:

Watch: Australian magazine editor defends plans to publish 'celebratory' Kate photographs

The editor of Australian magazine Woman's Day has said St James's Palace's condemnation of the decision to publish pregnant bikini shots of the Duchess of Cambridge has backfired because "twice as many people will now want to see them".

Speaking to Australia's Channel Nine network, Fiona Connolly refused to say how much she paid to win a three-magazine bidding war for the 39 images which form the latest set of controversial Kate holiday snaps.

But she rejected issues of privacy, saying the royals had been holidaying on a public island.

The editor of the Australian magazine which is due to print shots of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge in a bikini has played down any controversy, saying her readers are "going to love these photos".

"Look, I think the British are very sensitive about this," Woman's Day editor Fiona Connolly told Australia's Channel Nine network.

"As Australians, we see this every day," she said. "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."

Mrs Connolly played down fears of a negative reaction when the magazine goes on sale on Monday.

"I don't expect any backlash at all really," she said. "I think she's looking fabulous and healthy and (with) a beautiful bump, like we haven't seen her before."

Speaking to Daybreak, Royal Correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph, Roya Nikkhah said it is "unlikely" the royals will take legal action against Kate's bikini photos.

Photos of the Duchess of Cambridge in her bikini have been published in an Italian magazine today.

Read: No comment on whether legal action is being considered

Last year Chi magazine produced a 26-page spread showing Kate topless during a holiday in France.

The journalist was with the couple at the time they found out about the topless images, she said Prince William was "devastated".

Woman's Day editor Fiona Connolly reportedly said she had no qualms publishing the photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge. She told news.com.au:

The Australian magazine Woman's Day is set to publish the photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge on holiday in Mustique, Sky News' Australia Correspondent Jonathan Samuels reported.

He added that the magazine is also expected to publish photographs of Kate's sister Pippa in a bikini.

The pictures, which have been condemned by St James's Palace, reportedly show the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a bikini and strolling on a beach on the private island of Mustique with her husband.

The small Caribbean island, a former sugar plantation that is part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, in the West Indies, has long been a haven for the rich and famous.

In 1958 by Colin Tennant, the 3rd Baron Glenconner, bought the 1,400-acre island for 67,500 dollars (£43,000) to create a luxurious private retreat.

Three years later he gave a 10-acre plot as a wedding gift to Princess Margaret, on which she built a magnificent villa, Les Jolies Eaux.

Mustique is now owned by the Mustique Company, a group of shareholder home owners from 17 countries, which preserves and runs the island.

It has 100 private residences, 74 of which are available for rent, the 17-room Cotton House boutique hotel and a five-bedroom guesthouse, according to the Mustique island website.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge face fresh anguish and frustration after an Italian gossip magazine published photographs of Kate on a private Caribbean holiday.

A St James's Palace spokesman would not comment on whether William had been informed about the issue or if they were considering any form of legal action against the magazine.

The publication comes less than six months after the magazine produced a 26-page spread showing Kate topless during a holiday in France.

At the time Chi's editor Alfonso Signorini defended his decision to publish the pictures saying: "I am a director of a newspaper not a supermarket, I don't sell artichokes and carrots, I sell photographic scoops."