An ill-advised stunt by a pair of Australian shock jocks took a tragic turn when a nurse they tricked into divulging confidential information about the royal baby committed suicide.
Jacintha Saldanha, a nurse at King Edward VII Hospital, where pregnant Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was being treated for morning sickness, was the butt of the cruel joke. The deejays, posing as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, coaxed Saldanha into giving an update on the condition of Middleton, wife of Prince William. On Friday, officials announced Saldanha had taken her life.
"Police were called at approximately 9:35 a.m. this morning to a report of a woman found unconscious,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said. "London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time, the spokesman said. Officials did not immediately say if there was as suicide note or if Saldanha's death was directly linked to the hoax, which generated widespread outrage in Great Britain.
The Royal Family released a statement shortly afterward, expressing sorrow that the caregiver had taken her life.
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha," the Royal Family said in a statement. "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."
Saldanha had worked at the hospital for four years, according to hospital officials. Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the hospital, characterized Saldanha as a “first-class” nurse who diligently cared for hundreds of patients.
“She will be greatly missed,” Glenarthur said.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends,” read a statement by the hospital's chief executive, John Lofthouse. “Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague."
The radio personalities behind the stunt, 2Day FM's Mel Greig and Michael Christian, pretended to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in a ruse early Tuesday to trick the woman. Both Greig and Christian, who apologized the following day, had deleted their Twitter accounts as of Friday.
St. James's Palace announced Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge — formerly Middleton — had a severe form of morning sickness and was being treated at a London hospital with Prince William at her side.
The couple's first child will be third in line to the throne — behind William and his father, Prince Charles — leapfrogging the gregarious Prince Harry and possibly setting up the first scenario in which a female heir could benefit from new gender rules about succession.
Jacintha Saldanha, a nurse at King Edward VII Hospital, where pregnant Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was being treated for morning sickness, was the butt of the cruel joke. The deejays, posing as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, coaxed Saldanha into giving an update on the condition of Middleton, wife of Prince William. On Friday, officials announced Saldanha had taken her life.
"Police were called at approximately 9:35 a.m. this morning to a report of a woman found unconscious,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said. "London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time, the spokesman said. Officials did not immediately say if there was as suicide note or if Saldanha's death was directly linked to the hoax, which generated widespread outrage in Great Britain.
The Royal Family released a statement shortly afterward, expressing sorrow that the caregiver had taken her life.
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha," the Royal Family said in a statement. "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."
Saldanha had worked at the hospital for four years, according to hospital officials. Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the hospital, characterized Saldanha as a “first-class” nurse who diligently cared for hundreds of patients.
“She will be greatly missed,” Glenarthur said.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends,” read a statement by the hospital's chief executive, John Lofthouse. “Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague."
The radio personalities behind the stunt, 2Day FM's Mel Greig and Michael Christian, pretended to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in a ruse early Tuesday to trick the woman. Both Greig and Christian, who apologized the following day, had deleted their Twitter accounts as of Friday.
St. James's Palace announced Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge — formerly Middleton — had a severe form of morning sickness and was being treated at a London hospital with Prince William at her side.
The couple's first child will be third in line to the throne — behind William and his father, Prince Charles — leapfrogging the gregarious Prince Harry and possibly setting up the first scenario in which a female heir could benefit from new gender rules about succession.
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