In the face of widespread furore over the publication of topless pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge, Twitter users are biting back.

And what are they using to protest the infringement of Kate's privacy? A meme, of course. A search for 'topless Kate' on the social networking site will allow users to see a variety of pictures of the future princess - all with the top part of her body cut out.

One joker even photoshopped the words 'Kate Middleton' onto a beach, slicing the top off, to create a true topless Kate pic.

Here is the topless photo of Kate Middleton ;))))) twitpic.com/auv3cf

— Vibes.(@AbigailProphets) September 15, 2012

Despite the palace describing the publication of pictures of Catherine in French magazine Closer yesterday as a "grotesque and totally unjustifiable" invasion of privacy, on Saturday it emerged that the Irish Daily Star paper was running the images in its Republic of Ireland edition.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier launched legal action for breach of privacy against the publishers of Closer magazine in France after it published topless pictures of Kate.

The pictures were taken last week while the couple were staying in Provence at a chateau owned by Lord Linley, the Queen's nephew, ahead of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the Far East.

Loading Slideshow

SEE ALSO

• Italian Magazine Chi To Print Photographs Of Duchess Of Cambridge
• Don't Look Down! Kate And William Go On A Canopy Walk Amid Topless Photos Furore
• Kate And Wills To Sue Over Topless Pics
• 'They Are Not Shocking'
• 'Kate Middleton Topless' Commemorative Plate

Also on HuffPost: