Britain's Princess Diana said Monday she was outraged by the publication of "peeping tom" photographs of her working out in a gym and she may sue the newspaper that printed them.
The latest in a long series of sensational tabloid stories about Britain's royal family prompted the government to question the effectiveness of self-regulation by the media.Prime Minister John Major faces intense pressure to bring in sweeping new powers to prevent intrusion of privacy.
The tabloid Sunday Mirror published the photographs Sunday and its sister paper the Daily Mirror, defying a chorus of condemnation from politicians and rival newspapers, carried them again Monday.
That prompted a highly unusual statement through her lawyers by Princess Diana, estranged wife of heir to the throne Prince Charles and one of the most photographed women in the world.
"The Princess of Wales has noted with distress and a deep sense of outrage that without her knowledge or consent personal photographs of her were taken by means of a hidden camera while she was engaged in physical exercises at a private gymnasium and that these photographs have been . . . published," they said.
"The princess's advisers are for their part considering what legal action may be appropriate," they added. She also said she was heartened by widespread support she had received.
The photographs of the 32-year-old princess lying open-legged on an exercise machine unaware of the hidden camera above her provoked a furor and the government hinted the incident made laws to curb the excesses of a prying press more likely.
A spokesman for Major said: "The government deplores any invasions of privacy. There seems no doubt that the media themselves consider the invasion of the Princess of Wales' privacy was particularly flagrant.
"It brings into sharp focus the power of the Press Complaints Commission and the effectiveness of self-regulation against abuses of this kind."
It is unlikely a new law can be drafted in time for inclusion in Queen Elizabeth II's speech next week which opens a new session of parliament and sets out government policy.