Kate Middleton’s pregnancy and subsequent hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum has been hot news this week, and an Australian radio station managed to obtain privileged information about the Duchess of Cambridge’s medical condition by calling the hospital and purporting to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.
Kate Middleton’s pregnancy illness prompted the young royal to reveal her expectant state not only to worldwide media, but also the Royal Family itself — and a staffer at King Edward VII Hospital is doubtlessly in hot water after the very public privacy breach that ensued.
On Monday, a pair of presenters from the Australian 2Day radio phoned the facility and claimed to be Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth — without even asking if the hospital had Prince Albert in a can. With this seemingly simplistic ruse asking after pregnant Kate Middleton, the two jockeys were able to wheedle information out of the person on the phone, who instantly gave up deets without even asking why the two prominent monarchs were placing their own phone calls.
A nurse with access to Middleton’s status, described as sounding “flustered,” dished to the “Queen” and her son about the Duchess’ current status, saying:
“She is sleeping at the moment and she has had an uneventful night … Sleep is good for her. She’s been given some fluids to rehydrate her because she was quite dehydrated when she came in. But she’s stable at the moment.”
After saying Middleton would be “freshened up” and ready for a visit in the morning, the nurse added:
“She hasn’t had any retching with me since I’ve been on duty and she has been sleeping on and off. I think it’s difficult sleeping in a strange bed as well.”
John Lofthouse, the hospital’s chief executive, addressed the privacy breach regarding the pregnant royal in a statement and said:
“This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore. We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously and we are now reviewing our telephone protocols.”
Reps for the Prince refused to comment on the hoax.