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Nurse for Kate Middleton ‘commits suicide’: cops

 

Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian

Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian (EPA)

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave the hospital together.

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave the hospital together. (Matt Keeble / Splash News)

A hospital nurse caring for the Duchess of Cambridge, who was duped by two DJs pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, is understood to have committed suicide.
The hospital said Jacintha Saldanha took the hoax call by two Australian radio disc jockeys who impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles to elicit information on the duchess. Saldanha later transferred the call to the nurse caring for the Duchess, who is pregnant and was suffering from acute morning sickness.
READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRANK CALL

Saldanha was found dead early Friday. Police say her death is unexplained.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends,” said John Lofthouse, the hospital’s chief executive said in a statement. “Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague.”

St. James’s Palace also expressed sadness at the death.
“Their royal highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time,” the palace said in a statement.
Two Australian DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles tricked the woman into giving an update on the condition of Kate, who was being treated for severe morning sickness.
Greig using the often-mimicked voice of Britain’s monarch asked after the duchess’ health. She was told by the second nurse who took the call from Saldanha that the duchess, the former Kate Middleton, “hasn’t had any retching with me and she’s been sleeping on and off.”
The nurse went on to tell the personalities that the duchess had had an uneventful night, as a dog yapped in the background. The alleged queen and prince talk about traveling to the hospital to check in on the patient.
The hospital said it supported Saldanha in the aftermath of the call and that its phone protocols were under review.
The Australian station 2DayFM placed the recording of the conversation on its website but later said it was sorry. Greig and Christian also apologized for the hoax and have taken themsevles off the air because of Sadanha’s death.
Southern Cross Austereo, who owns 2DayFM, said in a statement that, “the hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy.”
The station’s chief executive officer, Rhys Holleran, had spoken with the presenters after the nurse’s death, and that both were deeply shocked. The hosts “have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy.”
Christian’s Twitter account has since been taken down.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called at approximately 9.35 a.m. this morning to a report of a woman found unconscious at an address in Weymouth Street, W1.
“London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances of the incident.”
Officials from St. James’s Palace have said the duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant. The child would be the first for her and Prince William.
With Sky News.