Versace niece wins apology from Now magazine

The niece of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace has won an apology from Now magazine over the publication of an article speculating on her health and containing pictures showing the 18-year-old shopping in London.

According to the Press Complaints Commission, Allegra Versace Beck made a formal complaint through her solicitors after the celebrity magazine published an article and photos in September 2004 entitled "Yes, you can be too rich and too thin". Ms Versace Beck, who inherited a 50% stake in the Versace designer empire on her 18th birthday, said that the article and photo intruded into her privacy.

This, she argued, breached a clause in the Commission's Code of Practice that says "Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications. Editors will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without consent."

The complaint has been resolved with the magazine publishing an apology to Ms Versace Beck. The magazine also undertook not to repeat the article, re-publish the photos or publish any further material on her private life, health or general well being unless authorised by her or her representatives.