Prince William was left “devastated” by the suicide of a nurse on Princess Kate’s hospital ward, who had been the victim of a prank call from radio station DJs posing as Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, according to a new royal book, William and Catherine. Jacintha Saldanha took her life three days after transferring a call from two Australian DJs who were then given details on Kate’s health by another staff member at King Edward VII’s hospital, where Kate had been receiving treatment for sever morning sickness during pregnancy in December 2012. William wrote a handwritten letter to Saldanha’s husband expressing “profound sorrow,” noting how colleagues spoke highly of her, and adding: “I am just so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation.”
William and Catherine, by Russel Myers, described how William took the decision to write to Ben Barboza, Jacintha’s husband, but did not tell the media or public he was doing so. The letter became public knowledge after Barboza showed it to The Mail on Sunday. Quoted in the book, Ed Perkins, the couple’s former private secretary, said: “Behind everything people think they know about them, they are human. “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. “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.”
Why It Matters In the aftermath of the tragedy there was a reckoning for the radio DJs, who were taken off the air as the many ordinary British people and media commentators took Saldanha’s side. Meanwhile, Barboza and the couple’s two children were left grieving and William and Kate were shown just how much damage the media frenzy around their lives can cause. What to Know The prank took place at 5.30am on December 4, 2012, when Saldanha, working a night shift at King Edward VII’s Hospital, transferred the call to a duty sister who disclosed details of Kate’s health. The recording was broadcast the following day, drawing global attention. Saldanha was found dead on December 7. An inquest later concluded she had died by suicide and that the hoax was “clearly pressing on her mind,” though managers did not plan disciplinary action because she had been tricked.
Myers wrote: “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. “Immediately after he returned to his RAF base shortly after Christmas, William penned a handwritten note to her husband and family to express his profound sorrow. “In the heartfelt letter offering his condolences, William said how devastated he and Catherine were to learn of Jacintha’s death. He explained how they had been thinking of Jacintha and made reference to how many of her colleagues spoke so highly of her.”
