Kate topless pictures: Yahoo! users in chorus of disapproval over magazine's decision to publish photos

Thousands of Yahoo! News readers have given the thumbs down to the French magazine that published topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge.

A large majority of our users voted 'no' in our online poll when asked the question 'If you were a magazine editor would you publish the topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge?'.

A total of 5,995 people (78%) signaled their disapproval after France's Closer magazine decided to show revealing pictures of Kate on its front cover.

Those who thought the magazine was right in publishing the pictures numbered 1,690 (22%).

Kate Middleton was the most popular Yahoo! search term on Friday and over the weekend, with thousands taking to Yahoo! News stories to condemn the actions of the magazine and its editor Laurence Pieau.

Prince William and Kate are now set to lodge a criminal complaint in France later today in a bid to haul the photographer responsible up in front of the courts.

In France anyone found guilty of breaking the country's strict privacy laws can face a fine of £36,000 and up to a year in prison.

It will be up to French prosecutors to decide whether to take the case forward once the couple's legal team file the complaint.

[Related article: Get the latest news on the royal couple]

Their lawyers are already pursuing damages and an injunction against Closer in a civil case in a bid to stop publication spreading.

The Duke and Duchess are currently on an official tour in the Solomon Islands.