Hospital staff illegally attempted to access Catherine’s medical records: report

The exclusive hospital where Catherine, Princess of Wales, underwent abdominal surgery is investigating claims a staff member attempted to access her medical records, a British newspaper has reported.

The London Clinic, which is also where King Charles recently spent time as an inpatient, is renowned for being discreet and has long served the royal family and other high-profile patients.

Police officers standing outside The London Clinic the day after Princess Catherine was admitted.Credit: Getty Images

The incident occurred when Catherine was a patient in January and is considered a major and damaging security breach by the hospital, which informed Kensington Palace of it soon after it was discovered, the Mirror reported.

In the UK, it is a criminal offence for medical staff to access medical records without the proper authorisation.

The clinic did not comment on the claims but told the Mirror: “We firmly believe that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information”.

Kensington Palace said: “This is a matter for The London Clinic”.

Catherine, 42, has been the focus of speculation, rumour and bizarre conspiracy theories on social media leading to headlines and intrigue around the world during her absence from royal duties after she had abdominal surgery for a non-cancerous but unspecified condition in January.

On Monday, a video published by The Sun newspaper on its website showed the smiling Princess of Wales walking and carrying shopping bags alongside her husband William, the heir to the throne, at a farm shop in Windsor near their home.

Filmed by a member of the public on Saturday, it was the first footage of the Princess of Wales taken since Christmas Day. Kensington Palace has not denied that the video is genuine, but has declined to comment on a matter it regards as being the royals’ private time.

“If that video of Catherine sort of walking quite briskly with a shopping bag doesn’t put an end to this frankly wild and baseless speculation, then I’m not sure what will,” said Katie Nicholl, royal author and correspondent at Vanity Fair magazine.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, in London in November 2023.Credit: AP

Since she was hospitalised in January, Catherine’s office has stuck to its official line that the princess was recovering well and that it would only provide significant updates, maintaining the royal mantra of “never complain, never explain”. The princess was not expected to return to official duties until after Easter which falls on March 31.

However, Catherine’s absence has led to online rumours, and her apology this month for editing a photo taken by William of her and her three children to mark Mother’s Day only sparked further intrigue.

“A lot of people out there didn’t seem to want to believe that the simple truth of the matter was that she was at home recuperating from a clearly serious abdominal surgery,” Nicholl said.

William visited Sheffield in northern England on Wednesday (AEDT) to unveil new investment in his scheme to tackle homelessness, one of his main campaigning themes.

Looking relaxed, he laughed and joked with staff and volunteers, and later referred to Catherine during discussions about homelessness and early childhood, one of his wife’s key projects.

“We’re venturing into my wife’s territory,” he said. “She needs to be sat here to hear this.”

with Reuters

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