The Duchess of Cambridge is at the centre of fresh controversy over her privacy after a German newspaper published a photograph showing her bottom.

Kate is seen in the picture walking with her husband William during their recent tour of Australia when a gust of wind blows up her dress at the back, exposing her backside.

German tabloid Bild has caused controversy by running the image, with one commentator describing the move as “utterly tasteless”.

The picture appeared on a section of the Bild’s website alongside pictures of American reality television star Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe with the caption: “Khloe, Kim and Kate – backsides which have moved us these past few days.”

Text underneath the picture of the duchess went on: “The royal helicopter rotor blades swirled up the air so that Kate’s summer dress began blowing upwards – affording us a glimpse of her beautiful bum.

German tabloid Bild has caused controversy by running the image

“Never have we been so thankful to a helicopter for creating such a wind.”

The item was listed as number one under a section entitled ‘Top 5 of the day’ on the Bild homepage.

The photograph was believed to have been taken as the duchess boarded a helicopter to Sydney after an official tour of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales with Prince William last month.

It is not the first time a publication abroad has provoked controversy over the royal couple’s privacy.

French magazine Closer sparked anger by printing topless images of Kate, 32, while she was sunbathing on a private holiday with William, 31, in September 2012.

In February last year Italian gossip title Chi published pictures of the duchess when she was around four months pregnant in a bikini while on holiday with her husband on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique.