In the habitual hacking of the royal family’s phones by the British tabloids, it was Kate Middleton who suffered the most.
Kate’s phone was hacked a staggering 155 times, including once on Christmas day by gutter hacks desperate to get a scoop on the private affairs of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
As the former editor of the now defunct News of the World, Clive Goodman confessed:
“Kate was targeted because she was a figure of increasing importance around the royal family and was already settling down with the heir to the throne.”
If any of the royal clan has a reason to be hacked off it’s Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge had her phone hacked a lot more than Prince William or Prince Harry.
Whereas Prince William was hacked 35 times and Prince Harry a measly nine, the inner sanctum of Kate’s mobile phone was violated at least 155 times by press hounds on the hunt for some scandal or other.
Kate was even hacked on Christmas Day in 2005, at least six years before her marriage to William made her a global superstar.
Yet whatever those dastardly hacks were hoping to find on the voicemail of Kate Middleton’s mobile phone, what they actually stumbled across time and time again is very revealing in it’s stark mediocrity.
And why would it not be? Speaking into a vacuum is quite unnatural and loathsome, and there are few people on the face of the planet capable of leaving the sort of enthralling, interesting, engaging and controversial answer-phone message that would make headlines.
As it transpires Kate Middleton’s husband, the future King of England, is no exception.
In Old Bailey transcripts of the voice recordings of Kate Middleton’s phone which were read out by Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC at the ‘phone hacking’ trial, William’s messages are those of any other young guy feeling a wee bit awkward at leaving a message on his lady love’s phone.
For the benefit of the tape, one message to Kate Middleton reads:
“My head’s all right. I’ve just picked up your message. Oh, my little babykins! I hope you are all right. I just tried ringing you but I do not think you would pick it up because it is 5.35am in the morning so it is probably not a very good time to ring you. I hope you are all right.”
In another message William leaves for Kate, he said:
“Hello baby, it’s me. Sorry I did not ring you earlier and tell you what I was doing. Been a bit of a nightmare day. I think I would just about be finished in a minute. It has just gone six but I don’t think I will be able to leave here till about seven. I have got stuff here to do, bits and pieces, but I should be able to leave at about seven at the least. Crack on with what you have got to do and don’t worry about me. I will give you a buzz later.”
In a slightly more colorful and interesting message, William said to Kate:
“Hi baby. Had a busy day today again. I’ve been running around the woods of Aldershot chasing shadows and getting terribly lost, and I walked into some other regiment’s ambush, which was slightly embarrassing because I nearly got shot. Not by live rounds but by blank rounds, which would be very embarrassing though. Um, er, yeah, I’m off on exercise tomorrow morning, just for the day, and then I’m back on Saturday first thing, erm, so I probably won’t be able to speak to you tomorrow night.”
And in yet another message left for Kate Middleton, William said:
“Hi honey, it’s me. I’m back in the small land of Sandhurst. A couple of pretty nasty days on exercise. Decided to just enjoy them. I am feeling a bit s***** at the moment but hope you are OK. Lovely to speak to you…
“You are probably very busy working but if there is any chance you are free, maybe later this afternoon or evening, I might be able to get out. I am going to try and go out beagling again and then come to you afterwards. So if you are around at home this evening I would love to see you. Let me know. Give me a text or ring back. I am around about the rest of the day.”
Anyhow that’s enough, Like Kate Middleton, you probably get the message. It’s pretty commonplace stuff, but what did you expect? Game of Thrones style antics?