MPs criticise press 'hounding' of Kate

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Ms Middleton has protested on more than one occasion of being pursued by photographers in the street.

But the PCC has been "less than impressive" in its response, according to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

The findings were part of the committee's report on press self-regulation.

It concluded that self-regulation should continue - but pointed to "recent lapses in standards" which had damaged the image of the press.

One such event was the "hounding" of Ms Middleton, the MPs said.

The situation came to a head in January, when Ms Middleton had to face a pack of photographers and news crew outside her London home amid mounting speculation that she and William were about to announce their engagement.

Three days later, the PCC circulated a letter from Ms Middleton's solicitors pointing out that their client was suffering from harassment and warning that a formal complaint would be made if editors continued to use material obtained from the paparazzi.

The committee report said: "In the case of Ms Middleton, harassment was evident, yet photographs taken by the paparazzi continued to appear in national and regional papers. We see no plausible public interest defence.

"The PCC appears to have waited for a complaint to materialise: it could and should have intervened sooner. The Press Complaints Commission took too long to act to protect Kate Middleton from clear and persistent harassment."