LONDON — Prince William and Kate Middleton’s aggressive legal strategy over topless photos of Britain’s likely future queen is the first salvo in what could be a decades-long tug-of-war over their family’s privacy.

A French court ruled in favor of the royal couple on Tuesday in their fight over the photos, but the scope of that ruling will be limited.

Additional Photos

A newsstand worker in Nice, France, checks copies of Closer magazine Tuesday. The magazine was ordered to hand over all digital copies of photos of the Duchess of Cambridge. The Associated Press

Annie Lennox The Associated Press

Randy Newman The Associated Press

The unauthorized topless photos of Kate have already been widely published in France, Italy, Ireland and on the Internet – lessening the impact of Tuesday’s court injunction against future publication inside France.

The royals’ strong stance also included a bid to persuade French prosecutors to launch a criminal inquiry to target the offending photographer.

The wealthy royal couple did not gain much on paper – the court-imposed fine was about $2,500 – but legal experts and royal watchers say the action was designed to demonstrate their willingness to use all legal means to prevent future press intrusion.

That will become even more important when the couple have a child, who would become third in the line of succession to the British throne, said Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine.

“This was done because they want to set a benchmark for the future,” he said. “They want to send a warning to anybody who might think of doing something similar in the future.”

The fast legal intervention, which developed within hours of the publication of the photos Friday in a French gossip magazine, represents a break from Queen Elizabeth II’s traditional policy of using legal action only as a means of last resort. It also reflects William’s determination not to let the press harass Kate as it did his late mother, Princess Diana, Little said.

Still, the case shows the unlikelihood of controlling photos through legal means once they have been published.

Closer magazine was ordered to turn over all of its digital copies of the photos, but that has little meaning in a world where millions of copies can be made and distributed in the blink of an eye.

Annie Lennox marries for third time, to doctor

NEW YORK — Annie Lennox has married for a third time.

The Scottish singer-songwriter’s publicist confirms Lennox married Mitch Besser in a private ceremony Saturday in London.

Several reports in the British press over the weekend described the ceremony, which was held aboard a boat on the Thames River. Lennox’s two daughters served as bridesmaids.

Lennox is best known as the singer for the multiple Grammy-winning duo The Eurythmics. Besser is an American doctor and founder of the charity mothers2mothers. They are both 57.

Newman song plays race card for the election

NEW YORK — Randy Newman is weighing in on the presidential election, and he’s playing the race card through a song he wrote called “I’m Dreaming.”

The piano tune features the refrain: “I’m dreaming of a white president.” It is full of satirical, sarcastic – and signature – Newman anecdotes about someone who votes for the president because he is white.

Newman, who is white, is openly supporting President Obama. He says he wants the public to find comedic relief in the song, but to also know he’s serious about his thoughts that racism is well and alive in the world – and in the current presidential race.

He called racism “the great issue of this country.” The song will be released as a free download Tuesday and Newman is encouraging listeners to donate to the United Negro College Fund.

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