In 2012, the world was left stunned when nurse Jacintha Saldanha took her own life after falling victim to a prank call made by Australian radio presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
At the time, the two hosts from 2Day FM phoned King Edward VII’s Hospital in London, where Kate Middleton was being treated for severe morning sickness during her pregnancy with Prince George.
Disguising their voices as the late Queen Elizabeth and then-Prince Charles, they managed to deceive Saldanha, who believed they were members of the royal family and transferred the call to the ward where Kate was staying.
Shortly after realising she had been tricked, the 46-year-old mother of two tragically took her own life.
Prince William’s Letter to the Saldanha Family
Following the devastating loss, the Saldanha family shared a letter written by Prince William on New Year’s Day 2013. In it, the then-Duke of Cambridge expressed his condolences and gratitude for the care his wife received at the hospital.
“It is unbelievably sad and we both extend to you and your family our deepest condolences,” William wrote. “We were both very shocked to hear about Jacintha and have been thinking about her a lot recently. Many of the nurses spoke highly of her and I’m sure you know how great a nurse she was.”
He ended the letter by saying: “Jacintha and her colleagues looked after us extremely well and I am just so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation.”
Fallout for Mel Greig and Michael Christian
The prank sparked international outrage, and both Christian and Greig faced severe public backlash, including death threats and lasting damage to their reputations. They later argued the responsibility should have been shouldered by their broadcaster rather than themselves.
Michael Christian chose to remain with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) but said he was sidelined and “made a scapegoat.” He also alleged he never received the promised support to rebuild his career. In February of this year, he was made redundant and has since filed a lawsuit against SCA, seeking compensation for lost earnings and damages, claiming the redundancy was not genuine.
Mel Greig, on the other hand, left the station much earlier. In 2014, she admitted struggling with depression and revealed her mother had received death threats. She publicly expressed regret, saying she was ashamed she had not done more to prevent the call from being broadcast.
Greig has voiced support for Christian’s decision to pursue legal action while also renewing her sympathy for the Saldanha family and calling for stronger reforms in how media companies care for their employees.