LONDON The prince has no clothes but British newspapers arent running the pictures.The countrys scandal-loving tabloids devoted many pages Thursday to the story of Prince Harrys naked romp in a Las Vegas hotel suite. But all heeded a warning from royal officials that printing the images, already seen by millions on the Internet, would infringe on the princes privacy.So while Irelands Evening Herald ran the stark-naked prince on its front page, British newspapers made do with pictures of holiday Harry in bathing trunks and fedora hat.The Sun tabloid came up with the most creative solution, getting a staff member named Harry and a 21-year-old female intern to recreate the naked pose under the headline Harry grabs the crown jewels.Bob Satchwell, head of industry group the Society of Editors, said papers were merely complying with editors voluntary Code of Practice, which declares it is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.But other media-watchers said a scandal that erupted a year ago over phone-hacking and other tabloid wrongdoing had tamed Britains once-rambunctious press.Newspapers were exposed to a trial of public opinion as Judge Brian Levesons media ethics inquiry heard from celebrities, politicians and crime victims who said their lives had been turned upside down by press intrusion.The scandal has killed one tabloid, the News of the World shut down by owner Rupert Murdoch after revelations about its illegal eavesdropping and tarnished the entire British media.With the inquiry considering whether to impose stricter limits on press freedom, many feel the tabloids are staying away from kiss-and-tells and celebrity scoops that they once would have relished.Neil Wallis, a former News of the World executive editor, said fallout from the hacking scandal had left newspapers terrified of their own shadow.In this post-Leveson era ... they darent do things that most of the country, if they saw it in the newspaper, would think thats a bit of a laugh, Wallis told the BBC.While newspapers including The Sun and the Daily Mirror proclaimed that the naked photos had been banned, that is not strictly true.Several media organizations around the world ran the two naked photos of the prince, which are being sold, according to British media reports, for about 10,000 pounds ($16,000).British outlets refrained, after receiving a warning Wednesday from palace officials.Prince Harrys office confirmed it had contacted the Press Complaints Commission, an industry watchdog, which in turn advised newspapers not to publish the pictures.Any paper that ran them risks being chastised by the commission, which can demand a newspaper publish an apology, but has no power to issue fines.They could also potentially be open to an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit from the prince.A letter to the watchdog from royal law firm Harbottle and Lewis warned that royal officials entirely reserve their rights as to any future steps that they may take should publication take place.Once, editors might have risked it, arguing that publishing the images was in the public interest because Harry is a public and publicly funded figure.Satchwell acknowledged there was a risk Levesons inquiry could chill press freedom. But he said newspapers were simply behaving responsibly over Harry.Of course freedom of the press is vitally, vitally important, he said. But just because you can publish something doesnt mean that you should.