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| Kate Middleton, her privacy violated at the hospital |
On January 16, 2024, Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery at the London Clinic. This Wednesday, March 19, The Mirror reported that an investigation was initiated within the hospital after a staff member was found to have accessed her private medical records. This incident inevitably brings to mind a previous ordeal that occurred shortly after the announcement of her first pregnancy in late 2012. Expecting Prince George, the wife of the heir to the throne faced distressing news.
On January 17, Kensington Palace issued a surprising press release, revealing that Kate Middleton had undergone abdominal surgery at the London Clinic. Nearly two months after her hospitalization, The Mirror disclosed on Wednesday, March 19, that an internal investigation was launched at the hospital due to unauthorized access to the medical records of the Duchess of Cambridge by a member of the hospital staff.
Back in late 2012, Kate Middleton's hospitalization had already attracted significant attention and turned into a tragic affair. Despite being in the early stages of her first pregnancy, she required treatment at the King Edward VII hospital in central London due to severe nausea caused by hyperemesis gravidarum. Unable to conceal the situation, the Palace promptly made the news public. While Kate Middleton and Prince William had hoped to delay the announcement of their first child's birth until after Christmas, circumstances dictated otherwise. Journalists eagerly awaited any updates, gathering outside the hospital for any potential developments. Additionally, two Australian radio hosts made an ill-advised prank call, further exacerbating the situation.
Kate Middleton and William face a murderous hoax
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| Kate Middleton, her privacy violated at the hospital |
Michael Christian and Mel Greig made a decision to play a prank on air by dialing the switchboard number at King Edward VII Hospital. Adopting a slightly formal tone, they impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse on duty at the time, received the call. Likely impressed by the apparent callers, she promptly transferred the call to a doctor, who divulged confidential information about their royal patient. What began as a joke that amused Australia and shocked the United Kingdom could have ended there.
However, the aftermath of the prank turned into a tragedy. Traumatized by her error, the nurse tragically took her own life just 48 hours later, leaving behind a devastated husband and two children. In a press release, Kate Middleton and Prince William extended their heartfelt condolences. A memorial service was even held in Westminster Abbey in her honor. The two radio hosts expressed feeling "shattered" and "devastated" by the events. A decade later, in a television interview, Mel Greig reflected on the tragedy. She revealed her struggle to overcome years of guilt and remorse, as reported by the Daily Mail. When asked about her safety following the incident, Greig, who faced numerous job rejections, tearfully admitted, "I didn't fear for my safety because I felt like maybe I deserved to die for what I had done."
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are determined to prevent further tragedies. According to Richard Eden, editor-in-chief of The Daily Mail, Kate Middleton took responsibility for the recent controversy involving a heavily edited photograph of her and her children, released on Mother's Day in the UK, to shield her staff from public scrutiny.
