The European Court of Human Rights will rule Tuesday on two cases involving press freedom and celebrities' right to privacy in Germany, including one brought by Princess Caroline of Monaco.

In a statement, the court said it would issue its rulings in a public hearing at 0900 GMT.

Caroline and her husband Prince Ernst August von Hannover had brought their case in 2008 before the European court, after German courts refused to ban the press from publishing photographs that were taken without the couple's consent.

At the heart of the complaint was a photo published between 2002 and 2004 by two German magazines, Frau im Spiegel and Frau Aktuell, depicting the royal couple taking a walk during their holidays at the Swiss ski resort of St Moritz.

Noting that the picture was accompanied by an article on Caroline's father Prince Rainier of Monaco's poor health, the German court found that it was a topic of general interest to the public.

The media also therefore had the right to report on the manner in which Prince Rainier's children behaved, the German court found.

During a public hearing at the human rights court in October 2010, lawyers representing Germany made the same argument.

The second case was brought by media giant Axel Springer against German courts over their decision to ban the publication of further news about a "well-known television actor" who had been arrested for cocaine possession.

While the court did not name the actor, Bild, a tabloid owned by the Axel Springer group, had published articles concerning Bruno Eyron's arrest for drug possession.

The actor immediately sought a ban on the publication of further photos and articles regarding the case, and won the backing of German courts, prompting Axel Springer to file its challenge at the Strasbourg court.