Australian radio presenters trick staff at Duchess of Cambridge's hospital into giving details of her condition
The 2Day FM presenters phoned the hospital pretending to be the Queen
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two Australian radio presenters tricked the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge into divulging details of her medical condition after claiming in a phone call to be the Queen and Prince Charles.
As thousands of Australians listened into the 2Day FM presenters Michael Christian and Mel Greig, an un-named nurse at King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes in London gave basic details of the Duchess' condition overnight and dutifully answered the pranksters’ questions about visiting hours.
At one stage Ms Greig, aka “The Queen”, insisted that she needed to feed her corgis – while a studio worker mimicked yapping dogs in the background.
The hospital confirmed the prank had taken place, described it as "foolish" and announced a review of security.
King Edward VII, Marylebone, is the preferred hospital for the Royal Family and has been caring for the Duchess of Cambridge since Monday when she was admitted with hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness which affects about one in every 200 pregnancies.
Mr Christian and Ms Greig, presenters of the daytime Summer 30 show, could be heard joking before calling the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning UK time.
In a conspiratorial voice, Mr Christian told listeners: “Here’s the thing we’ve been handed a phone number and we’ve been told that this number if the phone number where Kate Middleton is currently staying. We thought we would give it a call.
He added, in his Australian accent: “We can’t just ring up and say ‘hi it’s MC and Mel from the Summer 30, can we speak to Kate?’… it’s not going to happen.’
As his co-presenter giggled, he told Ms Greig: “You are going to be the Queen and I’m going to be Prince Charles.”
When a female hospital receptionist answered the call, Ms Greig, adopting an upper-class English accent, said: “Oh, hello there, could I please speak to Kate, my grand-daughter.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments