Topline
The U.K.’s privacy watchdog is investigating the reported prying of Princess Kate’s medical records by staff at a London hospital where she underwent abdominal surgery in January, amid heightened speculation about her condition.
Key Facts
The Information Commissioner’s Office told several media outlets Wednesday that it had received a “breach report” and the information is being assessed.
The watchdog’s comments came after the Daily Mirror reported that at least one staff member at the London Clinic, where Kate received her treatment, was caught trying to access her medical notes.
Citing an unnamed inside source, the tabloid reported that the incident was being viewed as a major security breach by the hospital and “incredibly damaging” to its reputation of discreetly treating members of the royal family.
Kensington Palace—the office of the Prince and Princess of Wales—said the report was “a matter for The London Clinic,” while the medical facility simply said it believes all its patients “deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information.”
The Mirror’s report added that Kate was informed about the breach.
News Peg
The reported breach has drawn strong reactions from British government officials, with the country’s Health Minister Maria Caulfield telling Sky News that it was “pretty severe and serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don’t have permission to.” Caulfield added that police has also been asked to “look at” the matter and it would be “very disappointing” if the breach happened. The Mirror’s report noted that accessing the medical records of a patient without the consent of a healthcare organization’s data controller is a criminal offense in the U.K.
Key Background
Reports of the breach and subsequent investigation come amid a series of controversies surrounding Kate and the royal family. As she recovers from her surgery, the Princess of Wales has largely remained absent from the public eye in the past several weeks and is expected to resume her royal duties after Easter. Amid limited information from Kensington Palace, speculation and conspiracy theories about her health and personal life have proliferated online. Kate underwent a scheduled abdominal surgery on January 17 and returned home from hospital two weeks later. On U.K. Mother’s Day, Kensington Palace released a photo of her with her children. The photo became embroiled in controversy as several major news agencies pulled it from circulation after flagging it as “manipulated” media. Kate would later apologize for causing “confusion,” saying she occasionally experiments with editing images like “many amateur photographers.” A video appearing to show her shopping with Prince William was released on Monday by the Sun and TMZ, but Kensington Palace has refused to comment on the veracity of the clip.