Three London Clinic workers are tonight under investigation by management over claims they tried to access Kate Middleton’s private medical records.
The trio all work at the prestigious private hospital where the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery earlier this year, and where King Charles was treated for and enlarged prostate before being diagnosed with cancer.
It is not clear whether they have been suspended or when the clinic was first made aware of the allegation they had tried to peek into Kate’s notes.
Aside from a statement put out by bosses at the clinic, it has refused to answer questions on the status of the staff and what actions it has taken against them.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) says it is investigating the incident as the clinic itself says it will take ‘all appropriate steps’ to investigate the alleged breach.
The Princess of Wales – pictured here with William in 2023 – has been maintaing a low profile as she continues recovering from surgery she underwent two months ago
Police standing guard outside the London Clinic in January – while the Princess of Wales recuperated inside
Kate has barely been seen in public since undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January; conspiracy theories about her health were fuelled by a Mother’s Day photo that was later revealed to have been edited before it was released (above)
The Princess of Wales is believed to have been told about the potential data breach, and it is believed the King’s private medical information was not affected.
The CEO of the London Clinic has vowed ‘all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken’ as it investigates the data breach claims.
Its chief executive, Al Russell, finally broke his silence this afternoon, saying in a statement: ‘Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality.
‘We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day.
‘We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken.
‘There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.’
A spokesperson for the clinic told ITV News that they would not comment further other than to say ‘all our patients, no matter what their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their personal medical information.
The Princess is said to be aware of the allegations, while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: ‘This is a matter for the London Clinic.’
The ICO said on Wednesday: ‘We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.’
According to the 2018 Data Protection Act, it is an offence to obtain or disclose personal data ‘without the consent of the controller’.
Jon Baines, a data protection specialist from the law firm Mishcon de Reya, told ITV News: ‘Any investigation by the ICO is likely to consider whether a criminal offence might have been committed by an individual or individuals.’
‘Section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018 says that a person commits an offence if they obtain or disclose personal data ‘without the consent of the controller’.
‘Here, the ‘controller’ will be the clinic itself.’
Royal experts say Kate has likely been left shocked by the news of the alleged data breach – but will be too busy focusing on her own recovery to let it get to her.
Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told the Mirror the news will have come as ‘a shock to the palace, a shock to the Princess and a shock to her husband and (to her) father-in-law, the King’.
‘For the London Clinic, it is an embarrassment of the worst kind and they will do their best to appease everyone concerned,’ she continued.
But Ms Seward added: ‘As for Catherine it is another emotional upset; she is going to have to put behind her. She is far stronger than she looks. She will not allow her battered emotions to get the better of her.’
Prince William pictured at the Welsh Guards’ barracks in Windsor following a visit today
Prince William during his visit to the Welsh Guards’ barracks in Windsor today (above). He said in a social media post it was ‘always a pleasure’ to visit the regiment
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman urged Brits to ‘get behind’ Kate on Wednesday amid unsubstantiated speculation about her health and private life
Al Russell, CEO of the London Clinic, said on Thursday that his staff were ‘acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality’
Kate made her last public appearance on Christmas Day as she attended the Sandringham Church festive service – weeks before her planned surgery for a non-cancerous condition
Prince William during a visit to a homeless housing project in Sheffield on Tuesday. He made a sweet reference to Kate during the visit, saying she needed to be ‘sat here’ for the discussions on how to end homelessness
Professional Kate Middleton lookalike Heidi Agan has shut down ‘crazy’ conspiracy theories about Kate – including a claim that she acted as a stand-in for a video of the Princess at a farm shop in Windsor
Quizzed by reporters today, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman has urged Brits to ‘get behind the Princess of Wales’.
Asked about the alleged breach at the London Clinic, the spokesman said: ‘Clearly there are strict rules on patient data that must be followed.’
And on whether people should give Kate a break, he added: ‘I think we all want to get behind the Princess of Wales, and indeed the Prince of Wales, and we obviously wish her the speediest of recoveries.’
The Princess of Wales has been the subject of a series of cruel conspiracy theories in recent weeks while continuing to recover from surgery she underwent in January.
Online trolls have suggested she is recovering from ‘Brazilian butt lift surgery’ or that she has even been replaced by a body double.
The toxic discourse has been fuelled further by the Mother’s Day photo shared from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts earlier this month – after it emerged the picture had been digitally manipulated at source before release.
Global picture agencies including AP, Getty and PA issued a rare ‘kill order’ on the photograph after ruling that it had been manipulated beyond what they considered acceptable journalistic standards.
It had been hoped that footage of Kate walking happily with William outside a farm shop in Windsor at the weekend might have silenced those sharing theories online.
Instead, conspiracy cranks have pored over the footage trying to give weight to their completely unsupported suggestions that she has been replaced by a lookalike, or that the footage itself is old.
Even professional Kate lookalikes have made it clear that they believe it is the Princess herself in the footage – calling for the conspiracy wonks to leave her alone.
Palace sources have fumed at the ‘madness of social media’ as cruel trolls claim to have found ‘proof’ that the princess is more unwell than claimed, or has been replaced with a double.
Kensington Palace has stated since the start of the year that the Princess will not return to public duties until sometime after Easter.
It has not denied that the video of the Princess captured at the weekend is genuine.
Meanwhile, Prince William has taken a trip to the Welsh Guards’ barracks in Windsor – for whom he serves as Colonel – as speculation continues to bubble online about his wife’s current health.
He was seen speaking animatedly with soldiers at Combermere Barracks, and said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: ‘As Colonel, Welsh Guards, it’s always a pleasure visiting the barracks to speak with the soldiers, hear plans for their future, and witness the great work the Battalion does with physical and mental rehabilitation.’
William, meanwhile, said during a visit to a homeless housing project earlier this week that he wished Kate could be ‘sat here’ with him as he heard about its work.
The Prince joined a Homewards Sheffield Local Coalition meeting at the Millennium Gallery in the South Yorkshire city to discuss ways to end homelessness.
When the topic of childhood was raised by Sheffield City Council chief executive Kate Josephs, William immediately remarked about the success of Kate’s early years projects.
Holding his palms out and smiling, he said: ‘Venturing into my wife’s territory here. She needs to be sat here to hear this.’
Earlier in the day, well-wisher Peter Brownley, 61, told him that he was a huge fan of the Royal Family and had sent the Princess of Wales a get well soon card. William replied: ‘You really are very kind.’
