Pippa's 'intimate' photographs stolen

Intimate pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were stolen from Pippa Middleton, it emerged today.

Thieves broke into her car in Chelsea and stole a camera which contained private photographs of Prince William and Catherine on holiday in the Caribbean.

The robbers then offered the frames to The Sun for £25,000. However, editors suspected the photos were stolen and informed Buckingham
Palace. Royal aides then set up an elaborate sting to catch the criminals, together with Scotland Yard and journalists from The Sun.

The tabloid's royal editor Duncan Larcombe today told the judicial inquiry into the press of the theft in 2009. He said: "A tipster called the news desk to say he had a memory stick of 'explosive pictures' of William and Kate on holiday in the Caribbean."

The reporter said he was suspicious as the man "did not sound like an old Etonian" and arranged to meet him at Paddington Station. He also warned press officers at Buckingham Palace.

Later that day he received a phone call from a Metropolitan Police officer who told him that Pippa's car had been broken into that morning and a camera had been stolen. The Sun, the police, and the palace then mounted an operation to catch the criminals and officers made two arrests.

At the time, The Sun described the photos as "some of the most personal pictures ever taken of the couple" during their holiday on Mustique.