The hospital where Kate Middleton was treated was at the centre of a huge security scandal tonight after reports staff attempted to access her private medical records.
Bosses of The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales underwent planned abdominal surgery in January, launched the investigation after it was claimed at least one member of staff tried to access the royal’s notes.
One insider told the Mirror: ‘This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family.
‘Senior hospital bosses contacted Kensington Palace immediately after the incident was brought to their attention and assured the palace there would be a full investigation.
‘The whole medical staff have been left utterly shocked and distraught over the allegations and were very hurt that a trusted colleague could have allegedly been responsible for such a breach of trust and ethics.’
Kate is said to be aware of the alleged incident while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: ‘This is a matter for the London Clinic.’
It is a criminal offence for staff in any NHS or private healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the medical provider’s data controller.
The Met Police have been contacted by MailOnline but did not immediately respond to the allegations.
A huge security breach has taken place at the hospital where Kate Middleton was treated after staff were reportedly accused of attempting to access her private medical records
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened its doors in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital today as Kate undergoes treatement
The London clinic refused to comment on the claims but said told the paper it firmly believes ‘that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information’.
The probe comes amid a tsunami of speculation being made on social media about the Princess’ unknown health condition, that Kensington Palace said would see her out of action until after Easter.
Baseless and hurtful conspiracy theories spread about her online included that she is dead, has been replaced by a body double or the Wales’ marriage is in trouble.
The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, which was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concerns that it had been ‘manipulated’.
The furor on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.’
The hospital’s investigation comes just days after videos and pictures emerged on Monday of Kate and Prince William attending a farm shop in Windsor.
It showed a smiling Kate carrying a shopping bag as she walked swiftly from the shop, a mile away from their Adelaide Cottage.
While the film provided relief to millions in the UK – suggesting that the Princess’ recovery is on track – crazed trolls took to social media claiming that the video was not Kate but a body double.
The London clinic refused to comment on the claims but said told the paper it firmly believes ‘that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information’
Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery
Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022
The hospital’s security breach is not the first time the Princess has faced public exposure of otherwise private medical records.
In 2012, two Australian radio DJs pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles in a prank-call to staff at King Edward VII’s hospital, where Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness.
Not seeing through their impressions, night nurse Jacintha Saldanha patched them through to a nurse helping to treat the duchess.
The stunt, which drew out information about Kate’s medical condition, was broadcast in full. But it turned to tragedy when mother-of-two Mrs Saldanha was found hanged three days later.
The incident – and its tragic consequences – were known to have greatly affected the royal couple. In a letter written to Mrs Saldanha’s family, William said they were ‘so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation.’
Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service
Queen Elizabeth II leaves the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on June 15, 2013
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated earlier this year first opened its doors in 1932.
Its illustrious list of previous patients includes Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and future US President John F Kennedy.
The clinic has a leading cancer centre which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially launched by members of the royal family.
The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.
Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what was described as ‘abdominal investigations’ in 2013, whilst Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, Kennedy, who was then a US Congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the clinic.
Taylor underwent a knee operation there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.
Other former patients include former Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 – when he was Leader of the Opposition – for surgery on his prostate.
Another former PM, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gall bladder removed at The London Clinic in 1953, when he was Foreign Secretary.
Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was PM from 2010 until 2016, was born there in 1966.
