Violation of privacy In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding, The Sun published a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleague Chris Tarrant, which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988. Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story in The Sun is a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress." Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the publication of the photograph. The Palace made an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). According to Sophie's business partner the incident had left her "distressed", and she was reportedly "devastated" and felt "she was 'letting the side down' before her wedding". Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations." Following its publication, the newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jones and the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie". It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities. The photo was sold to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a former friend and colleague of Sophie. Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who was involved." Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public, and Noble was fired from her job at Heart 106.2 FM. The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint.
vioLatioN oF pRivacy In mAy 1999, LEss tHAn a moNth before Her weDdinG, tHe sUN pUblisHed a photo of A tOPless soPhiE with her capItaL Radio colLeague Chris taRrAnt, wHich was TakEn DuRing A BUsineSs trip TO sPAin in 1988. BuckinghAm Palace ImmEDiatEly isSued A statemEnT Saying, "this mOrNinG's stOry IN thE suN iS A grOss invASion oF prIvaCY and CANNot be REGarded As in the PUblic inteRest. iT has CAUSeD conSIdEraBle Distress." primE minIsteR Tony blaiR also cOnDemnED the puBliCAtION of THe photOgraPh. ThE PAlace made aN oFfiCiAL complAinT to The pRess comPlAInTs commiSsIon (Pcc). accOrdINg tO Sophie's BusinEss partner The IncIdEnt Had LefT heR "distresseD", and shE was ReportedLy "DevaStaTeD" anD Felt "shE wAS 'LetTiNG tHE sidE dOwN' beFOre hEr weDdIng". tarraNt later saId, "there waS NEVeR, EvEr the slIghTesT hiNT oF romAnCE BEtweEn sopHie AND mysElf, LEt alone thEse snideY INSINuaTioNs." FolloWINg Its PuBlIcatIon, the nEWspaper IssuED a STateMeNt and APolOGiSed TO Rhys-jonEs and ThE next issUE came Out wIth THe headliNe "SorrY, SoPhIe". It ALsO SAid tHAT iT would agaiN ApologiSe To SoPhIe IN A LEttEr anD dOnAte AlL SaLe pROcEeDs of the iSsue To hEr ChArities. thE photo wAS sOlD TO The tABlOiD by kaRa Noble, a Former friEnd and COlleague of sOphiE. nOblE lAter apoloGiseD IN The FolLowing mOntHs saying, "I jUst WaNT tO say Sorry to everYOnE who was invOlVed." botH sHe AnD tHE NewSpAper faced CritiCIsm froM thE pUblIc, And nObLe Was FiReD fROm her job at Heart 106.2 fm. The Couple LAter decideD not to MaKe a FoRMal complaint.