“I am just really angry, why did they do that? Just a matter of three or four seconds changed our whole life,” he told The Guardian. “They were making some kind of mockery, saying: ‘OK, we fooled them.’ I can’t forgive the people who broadcast that.”

He added that his wife had carried the weight of humiliation and guilt. “It was the humiliation she felt, and the guilt. I go over that in my mind, over and over. She didn’t want me to know, to share that humiliation.”

Her son Junal also shared his grief: “Dad, my sister and myself miss our beloved mum every day, and will do so for the rest of our lives.”

In a letter dated New Year’s Day 2013, Prince William, then Duke of Cambridge, expressed condolences on behalf of himself and Kate. He described the situation as “unbelievably sad” and extended the couple’s “deepest condolences” to Saldanha’s family.

Fallout for the DJs

Michael Christian and Melanie Greig both faced intense public criticism after the incident, including death threats and lasting damage to their reputations.

Christian, who was made redundant earlier this year, has since launched legal action against Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of 2Day FM. His lawsuit claims the prank breached broadcasting codes, harmed his career, and subjected him to threats, while also alleging his redundancy was “not genuine.” He argues he was unfairly made “a scapegoat” and is now seeking compensation for lost earnings and damages.

Greig, who left the station long before her co-host, expressed understanding of Christian’s decision to sue but maintained her sympathy for Saldanha’s family. She has also called for greater reforms in how media organizations support their employees.