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As promised, Chi Magazine defiantly published long-lens photos of the pregnant Kate Middleton strolling on the beach in Mustique in a blue bikini.

With the 31-year-old Duchess’ ever-so-slight baby bump visible, the magazine’s headline reads “La Pancia Cresce.” Translation: “Your Belly Grows.”

So does the controversy over Kate’s right to privacy.

Chi Magazine, which supposedly paid $300,000-plus for the Kate Middleton bikini photos, appears utterly unconcerned by the ire of the British royal family.

 

Not shocking, considering that Chi, along France’s Closer and other publications in Europe, ran even more scandalous topless photos of Kate last year.

Still, their publication has the Palace up in arms, again.

Reports first started to filter out over the weekend that a photographer managed the impossible, somehow breaching Mustique’s legendary security.

Photos of Kate and sister Pippa Middleton strolling on Mustique’s palm-fringed shores in bikinis emerged, but the UK media declined to run them.

The Sunday People said it had “chosen not to view the pictures,” let alone use them, and “like the rest of the British media, will not publish them.”

One UK journalist says there’s “zero possibility” the Kate Middleton pics will be printed in Britain in the aftermath of last year’s controversy. Elsewhere, however?

As we’ve seen, all bets are off outside the United Kingdom.

A St. James’s Palace spokesman said: “We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas.”

“This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”

The photographs, taken from a boat offshore, may not be illegal, but are a huge blow for Mustique, which has thrived on its reputation as a paparazzi-free enclave.

Tabloids running Kate baby bump pics: Right or wrong?