A magazine editor has defended her decision to publish photos of a pregnant Duchess Catherine in a bikini.

Australian publication Woman's Day followed in the footsteps of Italy's Chi magazine by showing the images of Catherine relaxing on the beach with husband Prince William on a private holiday in Mustique.

While St James's Palace has condemned the publication of the photos, Woman's Day editor Fiona Connolly claimed a member of the public took the photos and said her readers will "love" the images.

She said: "This is not a hard decision about these photos. Kate's on a public beach, there are other holidaymakers there and she looks fabulous. I think the British are very sensitive about this. As Australians, we see this every day.

"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. Our readers are going to love these photos. I don't expect any backlash at all really.

"I think she's looking fabulous and healthy and (with) a beautiful bump, like we haven't seen her before."

Chi editor Alfonso Signorini also defended publishing the pictures, which he said were bought from a photo agency.

He added: "They can hardly be considered an invasion of privacy when the subjects are public figures in a public place."

St James's Palace has described the pictures of Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton prior to her 2011 wedding - as a "clear breach of the couple's right to privacy".

Bang Showbiz