Kate Middleton Baby Bump, Chi PHOTOS: Royal Family Angry over Magazine's Revealing Bikini Pregnancy Pics, Another Controversy Underway?

Just when the royal family thought Kate Middleton's "photo controversy" days were over... now Italy's infamous Chi magazine plans on publishing photos of the pregnant Duchess flaunting her growing baby bump in a bikini while vacationing on Mustique Island in the Caribbean. And just like with the revealing "boob and butt" pics, St James's Palace is not too pleased about the invasion of Middleton's privacy during the royal couple's "babymoon."

Chi magazine published the "royal baby bump" cover issue earlier this week. On it, a pregnant Middleton is featured sporting a blue bikini and the slightest baby bump. Prince William is also photographed, wearing a pair of blue swim shorts with his arm wrapped around Middleton's shoulders. The headline reads, "Kate and William honeymoon in three."

Apparently, several more exclusive bikini baby bump photos are revealed within the issue.

As several readers remember, Chi is the same tabloid that first came under fire for printing explicit photos of a topless and bottomless Middleton while vacationing with her hubby over the summer. Read more on that here.

Middleton has remained mostly out of the public's eye since announcing her pregnancy back in December - when spotted out on the streets of London, she's always properly clothed so that her tiny baby bump is just barely visible.

According to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (who now owns Chi magazine), he has every right to print the revealing baby bump pics because they were taken in a public place. Berlusconi recently told the BBC:

"The photographs, which can in no way be considered scandalous, were bought from an international photo agency, do not harm the image of the protagonists and the reaction of the media seems to me wholly over the top... Moreover, the photographs can hardly be considered an invasion of privacy when the subjects are public figures in a public place, in the open air; specifically on a beach surrounded by other bathers."

He also told the news website Corriere - "You can't compare it with the media persecution of Lady D (Diana, Princess of Wales). I repeat: the photos were taken in a public place."

St James's Palace and the royal couple have yet to comment about the private baby bump pics, but a royal spokesperson did recently condemn Chi for printing the vacation pics, insisting that it's a blatent invasion of William and Kate's privacy:

"We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published... This is a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy."

What do Mstarz fans think - does the royal family have the right to take legal action against the shady tabloid... again?