ZackMack

The Daily Mirror said Friday it "got it wrong" in publishing a picture of Prince William's girlfriend which she found intrusive -- but it may not be enough to avoid trouble.
The tabloid said it regretted publishing Thursday a photograph of Kate Middleton, 25, about which she lodged a formal complaint about alleged harassment.

Her lawyers contacted the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) over the shot of her heading to work, wearing sunglasses and holding a takeaway cup and her car keys.

"The Daily Mirror has always steered a sensible course in the use of photographs of Kate Middleton and other public figures," said its editor Richard Wallace.

"On Thursday we published an innocuous picture of Ms Middleton walking down the street with a cup of coffee.

"It was taken by a freelance photographer in circumstances where we were later told she felt harassed. We got it wrong and we sincerely regret that."

But the PCC said it was still examining the first official complaint made by Middleton.

"As far as the PCC is concerned, we're still in the process of investigating the complaint," a spokesman said.

"It's for the complainant to see how she feels about this response."

The press focus on Middleton was thrown into the spotlight on her 25th birthday on January 9.

She faced a bank of more than 20 photographers and five television crews camped outside her flat.

Despite the presence of a police officer, paparazzi blocked her path and when she finally drove away, photographers chased after her car on foot.

Middleton's lawyers then began investigating ways of protecting her from the persistent attention as her relationship with William, second in line to the British throne, comes under increasing scrutiny.