LONDON, May 4 -- A Spanish photography agency's offer of pictures with a 1 million pound ($1.5 million) price tag showing the Princess of Wales sunbathing topless at a Costa del Sol hotel has received a cool response from the bosom of Britain's royal-loving national press.
Tabloids and broadsheets alike were quick to run the story of the sale on their front pages Wednesday, with some claiming credit for simply turning down the offer.
The British deluge of royal gossip and accompanying photographs suffered a setback late last year when Diana appealed for the press to respect her private life.
The plea followed the Daily Mirror's publication of pictures, using a hidden camera, of Diana working out at a private gym in west London.
Now, two Spanish snappers have apparently caught Diana unawares as she enjoyed a three-day break on the Costa del Sol with friends.
The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that world rights to the pictures are being offered for around 1 million pounds ($1.5 million), with half that figure for British rights alone.
'British publications have so far been reluctant to buy the material, which would be seen as a gross invasion of privacy at a time of parliamentary sensitivity on the subject,' the broadsheet reported.
Luis Martin, the picture manager for Madrid's Europa agency, which is coordinating bids for the photographs, said there was considerable interest in the topless pictures.
'The pictures show the princess lying on her front and then putting a towel around her,' Martin said. 'These are pleasant scenes of a pretty young lady relaxing in the sunshine. They are not offensive.'
The Daily Mail ran the story on practically the entire frontpage with a headline proclaiming 'Diana's fury at topless pictures.'
An unnamed friend of Diana's was quoted as saying the intrusion was 'like a rape.'
An inside commentary said the British press cannot control 'their European brethren' and hinted the pictures may yet be published locally.
'Only by declining to publish those photographs can the British press keep its side of the bargain with Diana,' the report said. 'But even she must understand that news values will always come first, as they do today.'
Unconfirmed newspaper reports published Wednesday said Hola, the parent publication of Britain's Hello magazine had paid an undisclosed sum for the photos of Diana -- with her bikini top on.
