Prince William's secret heartfelt gesture after nurse at centre of Princess Kate baby 'hoax' tragically took her own life
A heartbreaking story
In December 2012 Prince William and Princess Kate’s lives changed forever. The happy couple announced they were expecting their first child, Prince George.
Princess Kate’s pregnancy brought with it an unbelievable buzz. And this unprecedented attention also brought royal observers at all angles, clamouring for insider info.
Unfortunately, Princess Kate was hospitalised amid the mounting attention and her stint in hospital sparked the idea for an eye-brow raising prank from an Australian radio station. A hoax that ended in tragedy…
Prince William’s gesture following tragic death of nurse in wake of Princess Kate ‘prank’
Princess Kate was admitted to hospital with Hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness.
Kate stayed at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London. Thankfully, all was well with mum and baby.
Sadly though, tragedy struck elsewhere, just days later.
Jacintha Saldanha, a nurse at King Edward VII’s, who had become embroiled in a shocking radio stunt, died by suicide.
Unsurprisingly, according to a new book by Russell Myers, Prince William and Princess Kate were “left stunned”.
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In William and Catherine, The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, royal journalist Russell Myers explains that Prince William made a heartfelt gesture to the family of Jacintha Saldanha following her death.
And likely due to the unwanted attention upon Jacintha’s family, William kept his gesture secret.
Tragic prank that left Jacintha Saldanha ‘distressed’
On December 4, in 2012 Jacintha Saldanha answered the phone when a pair of Australian DJs rang up the hospital.
The DJs pretended to be King Charles (then the Prince of Wales) and Queen Elizabeth, asking for information about Princess Kate.
Jacintha Saldanha unknowingly transferred the DJs to her colleague who was looking after Kate, who then divulged private information about her condition.
The incident was said to have left Saldanha greatly “distressed,” although, Myers explains, there had been “no mention of disciplinary action” for the two nurses who were embroiled “nasty trick”.
Prince William reached out following Jacintha Saldanha’s devastating suicide
Tragically, Jacintha was found dead on December 7. She had taken her own life just one day after Princess Kate had left the hospital.
“William and Catherine were left stunned and deeply saddened when told that Jacintha, who they had both met during her stay at the hospital, had taken her own life,” Myers alleges.
Myers claims that Prince William “immediately” sent “a handwritten note” to Jacintha’s husband and family expressing his “profound sorrow” at her death.
“I am just so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation,” his letter is said to have read in part. “This letter comes with my thoughts and prayers to you all.”
Prince William’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
Former private secretary of William and Kate discusses Prince William’s secret move
Former private secretary of William and Kate, Ed Perkins, told Myers that this “was typical of William, and Catherine for that matter,” regarding the heartfelt gesture.
“Behind everything people think they know about them, they are human,” Ed Perkins said of the couple. “Everyone was devastated for Jacintha’s family when we heard the tragic news, it was a dark episode and put into context once more the lengths that certain people are prepared to go to access their lives and the effect that potentially has on others.”
He went on to say: “William didn’t tell anyone he planned to write to Jacintha’s family and nor should he. It was a personal moment to offer his sympathies and something that speaks to both of them as people who care.”
DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig, were removed from their station following Jacintha Saldanha’s suicide.
St James’s Palace 2012 statement
At the time, St James’s Palace said in a statement: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha … 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 her family, friends and colleagues … At no point did the palace complain to the hospital about the [hoax] incident. On the contrary, we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved at all times.”
King Edward VII’s hospital said at the time: “It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha.Jacintha had worked at the King Edward VII hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and , well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues. She was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time.”
2Day FM’s statement
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) the owner of 2Day FM, the station behind the hoax, also shared a statement at the time.
They said: “Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and 2Day FMWe are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII’s Hospital and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and all that have been affected by this situation around the world. Chief executive Rhys Holleran has spoken with the presenters, they are both deeply shocked and at this time we have agreed that they not comment about the circumstances. SCA and the hosts have decided they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy.”
Mel Greig and Michael Christian’s apology
Since the ordeal, DJ Mel Greig has discussed the deep depression she was plunged into, as she carried the guilt of Jacintha’s heartbreaking death.
Greig previously spoke to This Morning explaining that her profile “won’t go away,” and that she hopes to use it for good, shedding light on Endometriosis and mental health struggles.
Both Mel Greig and Michael Christian apologised shortly after Jacintha’s death.
“I’m very sorry and saddened for the family, and I can’t imagine what they’ve been going through,” Greig said on Today Tonight.
Christian also said on the show: “For the part we played, we’re incredibly sorry,” and described himself as “gutted, shattered and heartbroken.”
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