Photograph by ms.akr
The nurse who connected the call at the switchboard at the centre of the royal hoax, Jacintha Saldanha, has been found dead.
The police were called to an address in central London at 09:35 to reports that a woman was found unconscious. Scotland Yard are treating the death as unexplained and enquiries are continuing.
Saldanha had worked at the King Edward VII’s Hospital for more than four years, with the hospital describing her as:
“An excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues.”
John Lofthouse, Chief Executive of King Edward VII Hospital has said:
“Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague.”
She had been duped into giving away some details of the medical condition of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, by two Australian DJs from Sydney radio station 2Day FM, who posed as the Queen and Prince Charles. She had been described as the “victim” of the hoax by the hospital and had not been disciplined over the matter.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said in a statement that they were “deeply saddened” by the death.
