- Extraordinary call by 2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian
- The duo phoned King Edward VII Hospital in central London yesterday
- Hospital confirms incident and calls it a 'foolish and deplorable prank call'
- Radio station spokesman: 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused'
- Australian media regulator: 'Privacy is an issue that we take seriously'
- Queen's former press secretary: 'It's shocking - where were the checks?'
- Radio duo: 'We thought they'd hang up after hearing our terrible accents'
- Prank call pre-recorded and vetted by lawyers before broadcast in Sydney
- Care Quality Commission: 'Our inspection team have been made aware'
- Same radio station forced girl, 14, into revealing live on air she was raped
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The exclusive private hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge was duped into airing confidential information about her pregnancy in an amateurish hoax by an Australian radio station yesterday.
Two giggling DJs phoned King Edward VII Hospital’s switchboard at 5.30am pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles.
Despite sounding more like pantomime dames than members of the Royal Family, and with colleagues barking like corgis in the background, presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian were put through to a nurse’s station on the ward where the Duchess is recovering from acute morning sickness.
Scroll down for edited audio and transcript
Royal couple: Prince William (left) leaves the
King Edward VII Hospital in central London last night after visiting his
wife. The Duchess of Cambridge (right) is pictured last week at her old
school in Pangbourne, Berkshire
Yesterday the horrified hospital boss John Lofthouse confirmed his staff had passed on information about Kate, saying: 'This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore.'
'This
was a foolish prank call that we all deplore. We take patient
confidentiality extremely seriously and we are now reviewing our
telephone protocols'
A hospital spokesman added: 'King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister
Agnes can confirm that an Australian radio station made a hoax call to
the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
John Lofthouse, King Edward VII Hospital chief executive
'This call was transferred through to a ward and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff. King Edward VII’s Hospital deeply regrets this incident.'
St
James’s Palace has refused to comment and will not be making any formal
complaint to the radio station, 2Day, which is based in Sydney.
But
the Mail understands that William and Kate’s private staff are furious
and have expressed ‘deep concern’ that the Duchess’s privacy could be
compromised in this way.
What worries them most, apparently, is just how easy it was for the DJs to get away with their prank.
Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former Press Secretary who
worked at Buckingham Palace for 12 years, told MailOnline: ‘This is a shocking
breach of security.
‘The Royal Family have been clients of the King Edward VII
Hospital for many, many years and it simply beggars belief that a member of
the public could call up and obtain details of the Duchess’s medical condition
in this way.
Presenters: Mel Greig (left) and Michael
Christian (right) were told that the Duchess was about to be 'freshened
up', with a nurse saying: 'She's sleeping at the moment and she has had
an uneventful night'
‘Where on earth were the checks and balances? The hospital
will be livid at what has happened and I am sure the palace will be demanding
answers. There will be fireworks over this, for sure.’
MailOnline can also reveal that the same radio station was reprimanded in in 2009 after a girl aged 14 was attached to a lie
detector and pushed into revealing live on air that she had been raped.2DAY FM FORCED GIRL TO CONFESS SHE WAS RAPED LIVE ON AIR WHILE STRAPPED TO LIE DETECTOR TEST
Prank
radio station 2Day FM is already serving two five-year licence
probations after serious breaches of the regulator's code, it emerged
yesterday.
The broadcaster was handed the first reprimand in 2009 after a 14-year-old girl was attached to a lie detector and pushed into revealing live on air that she had been raped.
The reluctant teenager had been brought on to The Kyle and Jackie O Show by her mother who told the presenters she was worried about her daughter's use of drugs and partying.
The mother asked her daughter: 'Have you ever had sex?'
To which, she replied: 'I’ve already told you the story about this ... and don’t look at me and smile because it’s not funny'.
After a pause, the girl added: 'Oh OK, I got raped when I was 12 years old.'
After a public outcry, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) imposed a licence condition for five years which prohibited 2Day FM, owned by Southern Cross Austereo, from broadcasting indecent content and content that demeans women or girls.
Mr Sandilands then incurred the second licence condition after he called a female journalist a 'fat slag' live on air.
The journalist for New Limited made the complaint to the ACMA after she was verbally assaulted by Breakfast DJ Kyle Sandilands after she dared to criticise his work.
He was reported as saying: ‘What a fat bitter thing you are, you deputy editor of an online thing.
You've got a nothing job anyway. You're a piece of s**t,' he said.‘You’re a bulls**t artist, girl. That's what you are. You should be fired from your job.'
The broadcaster was handed the first reprimand in 2009 after a 14-year-old girl was attached to a lie detector and pushed into revealing live on air that she had been raped.
The reluctant teenager had been brought on to The Kyle and Jackie O Show by her mother who told the presenters she was worried about her daughter's use of drugs and partying.
The mother asked her daughter: 'Have you ever had sex?'
To which, she replied: 'I’ve already told you the story about this ... and don’t look at me and smile because it’s not funny'.
After a pause, the girl added: 'Oh OK, I got raped when I was 12 years old.'
After a public outcry, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) imposed a licence condition for five years which prohibited 2Day FM, owned by Southern Cross Austereo, from broadcasting indecent content and content that demeans women or girls.
Mr Sandilands then incurred the second licence condition after he called a female journalist a 'fat slag' live on air.
The journalist for New Limited made the complaint to the ACMA after she was verbally assaulted by Breakfast DJ Kyle Sandilands after she dared to criticise his work.
He was reported as saying: ‘What a fat bitter thing you are, you deputy editor of an online thing.
You've got a nothing job anyway. You're a piece of s**t,' he said.‘You’re a bulls**t artist, girl. That's what you are. You should be fired from your job.'
Sean O'Hare and Simon Tomlinson
In the outrageous stunt in the early hours of yesterday, 2Day FM DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian joked about impersonating the Queen and Prince Charles before calling the hospital number.
They were then transferred to the correct ward and found themselves talking to one of Kate’s nursing staff.
The woman told them that the Duchess was about to be 'freshened up', saying: ‘She's sleeping at the moment and she has had an uneventful night. She's been given some fluids, she's stable at the moment.’
The radio presenters were told by the nurse that they could visit the Duchess after 9am.
She told the hoax Queen and Charles: 'I would suggest that any time after nine o'clock will be suitable to visit. We'll be getting her freshened up.'
A radio station spokesman later apologised for the 'inconvenience' caused by the call.
He said yesterday: '2Day FM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by the enquiry to Kate’s hospital. The radio segment was done with the best intentions and we wish Kate and her family all the best.'
The station is owned by Southern Cross Austereo, an Australian media group formed in a merger last year that has a collection of TV and radio brands, and claims to be able to connect with 95 per cent of Australians every week.
The prank call was pre-recorded and vetted by lawyers before being broadcast in Sydney.
The radio duo said in a statement yesterday: ‘We were very surprised
that our call was put through. We thought we’d be hung up on as soon as they
heard our terrible accents.
'We’re very sorry if we’ve caused any issues and we’re glad
to hear that Kate is doing well.’
People took to Twitter to voice their
disbelief and disgust. 
Third visit: Prince William (centre) arrives at
the King Edward VII Hospital to visit his wife the Duchess of Cambridge
in central London yesterday, as news was developing of the extraordinary
call
Oliver Wright said: 'Apparently the hospital
treating Kate fell for this prank phone call from Australia. Truly
remarkable - it's so poor.'And Rachel Hawkes added: 'Shame on you... you make me embarrassed to be Australian.'
Mr Christian said on Twitter after the incident that he was 'an Englishman with a terrible accent' and he added: 'Can't believe we got put through.'
A spokesman for St James’s Palace told MailOnline that it was a ‘matter for the hospital’.
THE ROYALS' HOSPITAL OF CHOICE
The prank call will be deeply
embarrassing for the King Edward VII Hospital, which is the medical
institution of choice for the Royal Family.
The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cornwall have all been treated at the institution over the years.
William is likely to be angered by the intrusion into his wife's health, despite the call having a humorous rather than sinister motive.
The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cornwall have all been treated at the institution over the years.
William is likely to be angered by the intrusion into his wife's health, despite the call having a humorous rather than sinister motive.
And a hospital source told MailOnline: 'There were some very sick people on Kate's ward and prank calls in the early hours of the morning are not appreciated.'
Emma Rossi, a spokesman for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates broadcasters, told MailOnline: 'We are not aware of having received a complaint, but privacy is an issue that we take seriously.'
She said the normal procedure would be for someone to make a complaint to the broadcaster first. If the complainant wasn't happy with the response, then the ACMA would launch its own probe.
The Care Quality Commission, which monitors whether hospitals are meeting national standards, said it has been informed of the incident.
Listen to MailOnline's edited version of the prank call (from hot30countdown)
Outside: The prank call will be deeply
embarrassing for the King Edward VII Hospital, which is the medical
institution of choice for the Royal Family
A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The CQC expects all patients to have their privacy dignity and rights respected at all times.'Our inspection team have been made aware of the incident reported in the media. This information will be added to information we already have on the hospital.
'The
Royal Family have been clients of the King Edward VII Hospital for
many, many years and it simply beggars belief that a member of the
public could call up and obtain details of the Duchess’s medical
condition in this way'
'We would expect the hospital to carry out their own internal investigation and put in place any measures they deem necessary.'
Dickie Arbiter, Queen’s former Press Secretary
A spokesman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said: 'All nurses and midwives must follow "The code: standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives" as laid out by the NMC.
'If an employer has serious concerns that a nurse or midwife has breached their code of conduct and it cannot be dealt with at a local level then a referral should be made to the NMC.
'In most cases, we do ask that before contacting us employers carry out their own internal investigations and utilise their own disciplinary and competence procedures.'
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'The Duchess of Cambridge has a right to privacy and confidentiality like all other patients.'
Helping out: Dr Alan Farthing from the Duchess's
medical team is pictured arriving at the King Edward VII Hospital in
central London yesterday
PREVIOUS ROYAL PRANK CALLS
The royals have been the target of hoax callers before.
In 1995 Canadian DJ Pierre Brassard, pretending to be Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, was put through to the Queen.
The pair spoke for around 15 minutes and he even managed to elicit a promise that she would try to influence Quebec's referendum on proposals to break away from Canada.
In 1995 Canadian DJ Pierre Brassard, pretending to be Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, was put through to the Queen.
The pair spoke for around 15 minutes and he even managed to elicit a promise that she would try to influence Quebec's referendum on proposals to break away from Canada.
The Duchess has been on a drip in hospital after being admitted on Monday with an acute – and potentially dangerous – form of morning sickness.
St James’s Palace said on Tuesday: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge is continuing to feel better. She and the duke are immensely grateful for the good wishes they have received.
‘She will remain in hospital at present and will continue to be treated for hyperemesis gravidarum.’
In spite of William’s obvious concern, the couple may be forced to spend the first months of Kate’s pregnancy apart if her medical condition does not improve, MailOnline understands.
It may require regular hospital treatment because it can lead to severe dehydration, putting mother and baby at risk.
Journalist Brett Mason, the Europe correspondent for Network 10 Australia, said the reaction to the prank call story in Australia was one of shock.
He said: ‘It’s quite extraordinary that two particularly bad royal family impersonators with distinctly Australian accents have been put through.
‘I think we’re probably having a bit more of a chuckle than our British comrades, who are still trying to see the funny side.
‘But we also get the seriousness of it and given the timing of Leveson it’s probably gone down like a lead balloon over here.’
Mr Mason, who was sent to the hospital to cover the story, said he had spoken to one of the radio presenters after the story emerged.
‘I think they’re quietly chuffed that they’ve made international headlines,’ he said. ‘I don’t think when they made that late night phone call they ever expected to be front page news right around the world.’
VIDEO: Hospital Chief Exec calls hoax call "deplorable"
THE TRANSCRIPT IN FULL: PRESENTERS CALL KING EDWARD VII HOSPITAL
Receptionist: ‘Hello, good morning, King Edward VII Hospital’
Female presenter (Mel Greig, impersonating the Queen): ‘Oh, hello there. Could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter?’
Receptionist: ‘Oh yes, just hold on ma’am’
Male presenter (Michael Christian, impersonating Prince Charles): ‘Are they putting us through?’
Greig: ‘Yes’
Christian: ‘If this has worked it is the easiest prank call we have ever made. Your accent sucked by the way, I just want you to know’
[Both laughing]
Greig: ‘I’m not used to playing old an 80-year-old’
She started working at the radio station two years ago after five years experience in commercial radio. She ran her own radio school from her home town Adelaide, before that, but became known to Australia for a stint on The Amazing Race TV show.
Before she left Adelaide she risked the wrath of her Australian rules footballer boyfriend Steven Pollock when she jokingly suggested that when she got to Melbourne she hoped to fulfil her dream of licking chocolate syrup off the stomach of R&B singer Usher.
She is also well known as an MC, having hosted fashion events, modelling camps and award nights.
Michael Christian - also known as an ‘MC’ but only because of his initials - was previously a presenter on a Melbourne TV station.
When he was picked to join 2DayFM he said he couldn’t wait to join Greig in the studio.
[Phone picked up]
Greig: ‘Kate, my darling. Are you there?’
Nurse: ‘Good morning ma’am, this is the nurse speaking, how may I help you?’
Greig: ‘I’m just after my granddaughter Kate. I want to see how her little tummy bug is going?’
Nurse: ‘She’s sleeping at the moment and she has had an uneventful night. And sleep is good for her. She's been given some fluids [part removed due to patient confidentiality]. She's stable at the moment.'
[Part removed due to patient confidentiality]
Greig: ’I’ll just feed my little corgis then. When is a good time to come and visit her, because I’m the Queen and I need a lift down there?’
[In background: Mummy, mummy]
‘Charles! When can you take me to the hospital, Charles?’
Christian: ‘When will it be alright to come down and see her? Maybe in the morning or something if that’s OK?’
Nurse: ‘I would suggest that any time after nine o’clock would be suitable because the doctor will be in in the morning and will just be getting her freshened up. I would think any time after nine.’
Christian: ‘Is Wills still there or has he gone home? I haven’t spoken to him yet.’
Nurse: ‘He went home probably at about nine o’clock last night, to be fair.’
Christian: ‘Lovely, but are they all ok? Everything is alright?’
Nurse: [Removed due to confidentiality]
Christian: ‘Of course, it’s hardly the palace is it?’
Greig: ‘ It’s nothing like the palace, is it Charles? When are you going to walk those bloody corgis?’
Christian: ‘Mumsy, I’ll go and take the dogs outside’
Greig: ‘I need to go visit Kate in the morning. My dear, thank you so much’
Nurse: ‘You are very welcome’
Greig: ‘Goodbye’
Nurse: ‘Goodbye’
[Both presenters burst into laughter]
Greig: ’She was giving real information’
Christian: ‘Mummy I think they just believed everything we just said’
Female presenter (Mel Greig, impersonating the Queen): ‘Oh, hello there. Could I please speak to Kate please, my granddaughter?’
Receptionist: ‘Oh yes, just hold on ma’am’
Male presenter (Michael Christian, impersonating Prince Charles): ‘Are they putting us through?’
Greig: ‘Yes’
Christian: ‘If this has worked it is the easiest prank call we have ever made. Your accent sucked by the way, I just want you to know’
[Both laughing]
Greig: ‘I’m not used to playing old an 80-year-old’
MEL GREIG: A 'BUNDLE OF LAUGHS' WHO ENJOYS BEING MISCHIEVOUS
Blonde Mel Greig, 30, is said to be a ‘bundle of laughs’ who enjoys being mischievous.She started working at the radio station two years ago after five years experience in commercial radio. She ran her own radio school from her home town Adelaide, before that, but became known to Australia for a stint on The Amazing Race TV show.
Before she left Adelaide she risked the wrath of her Australian rules footballer boyfriend Steven Pollock when she jokingly suggested that when she got to Melbourne she hoped to fulfil her dream of licking chocolate syrup off the stomach of R&B singer Usher.
She is also well known as an MC, having hosted fashion events, modelling camps and award nights.
Michael Christian - also known as an ‘MC’ but only because of his initials - was previously a presenter on a Melbourne TV station.
When he was picked to join 2DayFM he said he couldn’t wait to join Greig in the studio.
Richard Shears
Greig: ‘Kate, my darling. Are you there?’
Nurse: ‘Good morning ma’am, this is the nurse speaking, how may I help you?’
Greig: ‘I’m just after my granddaughter Kate. I want to see how her little tummy bug is going?’
Nurse: ‘She’s sleeping at the moment and she has had an uneventful night. And sleep is good for her. She's been given some fluids [part removed due to patient confidentiality]. She's stable at the moment.'
[Part removed due to patient confidentiality]
Greig: ’I’ll just feed my little corgis then. When is a good time to come and visit her, because I’m the Queen and I need a lift down there?’
[In background: Mummy, mummy]
‘Charles! When can you take me to the hospital, Charles?’
Christian: ‘When will it be alright to come down and see her? Maybe in the morning or something if that’s OK?’
Nurse: ‘I would suggest that any time after nine o’clock would be suitable because the doctor will be in in the morning and will just be getting her freshened up. I would think any time after nine.’
Christian: ‘Is Wills still there or has he gone home? I haven’t spoken to him yet.’
Nurse: ‘He went home probably at about nine o’clock last night, to be fair.’
Christian: ‘Lovely, but are they all ok? Everything is alright?’
Nurse: [Removed due to confidentiality]
Christian: ‘Of course, it’s hardly the palace is it?’
Greig: ‘ It’s nothing like the palace, is it Charles? When are you going to walk those bloody corgis?’
Christian: ‘Mumsy, I’ll go and take the dogs outside’
Greig: ‘I need to go visit Kate in the morning. My dear, thank you so much’
Nurse: ‘You are very welcome’
Greig: ‘Goodbye’
Nurse: ‘Goodbye’
[Both presenters burst into laughter]
Greig: ’She was giving real information’
Christian: ‘Mummy I think they just believed everything we just said’
Mario Ledwith
'PATIENTS CAN EXPECT THE HOSPITAL TO RESPECT PRIVACY AND DIGNITY'
King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister
Agnes was founded by Agnes Keyser in 1899 as a hospital for sick and
wounded Officers returning from the Boer War.
It was awarded a Royal Charter in 1930 and today is a registered charity whose Patron is Her Majesty the Queen.
Today
the private independent acute hospital has a subsidy and grants
programmes open to all uninsured serving and ex-Service personnel and
their spouses.
Services are also available to those without military connections. In 1948 the hospital moved to its present West End location on Beaumont Street in Marylebone.
According to the hospital's own website, the institution delivers 'the highest standards of private medical care in London, supported by outstanding nurses, first class staff and hand-picked consultants, all of whom are recognised leaders in their fields.'
It says it employs only the ‘highest calibre of nursing staff’ who cover 58 en-suite rooms over three wards.
The latest saga is embarrassing for a hospital that has built a reputation for complete discretion.
Previous royal patients include Prince Philip who was treated for a bladder infection in June and was visited by various members of the royal family including his wife, the Queen.
It appears to be a blip in what is otherwise an almost faultless record. The hospital are consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the UK based on patient satisfaction.
In their latest survey from April to June 2012, 99.3 per cent of patient’s said they were happy with how their privacy was maintained.
According to their Patient's Charter: 'Patients can expect the Hospital to respect privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs at all times and in all areas.'
It was awarded a Royal Charter in 1930 and today is a registered charity whose Patron is Her Majesty the Queen.
Royal favourite: Police officers stand outside the King Edward VII Hospital in central London
Services are also available to those without military connections. In 1948 the hospital moved to its present West End location on Beaumont Street in Marylebone.
According to the hospital's own website, the institution delivers 'the highest standards of private medical care in London, supported by outstanding nurses, first class staff and hand-picked consultants, all of whom are recognised leaders in their fields.'
It says it employs only the ‘highest calibre of nursing staff’ who cover 58 en-suite rooms over three wards.
The latest saga is embarrassing for a hospital that has built a reputation for complete discretion.
Previous royal patients include Prince Philip who was treated for a bladder infection in June and was visited by various members of the royal family including his wife, the Queen.
It appears to be a blip in what is otherwise an almost faultless record. The hospital are consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the UK based on patient satisfaction.
In their latest survey from April to June 2012, 99.3 per cent of patient’s said they were happy with how their privacy was maintained.
According to their Patient's Charter: 'Patients can expect the Hospital to respect privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs at all times and in all areas.'
Claire Bates
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