Kate’s privacy breach
Clinic staff accused of trying to steal health records
LONDON: Hospital staff have been accused of trying to access Princess Catherine’s medical records, as a third image was dragged into the doctored photos saga.
In a major security breach, at least one member of staff at the prestigious London Clinic tried to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical notes at the hospital where she underwent abdominal surgery in January, according to British newspaper The Mirror.
The London Clinic refused to comment on the medical data breach 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.”
The hospital informed Kensington Palace of the alleged breach as soon as it was discovered. In response, the palace said the case was “a matter for The London Clinic”.
Catherine is understood to have been made aware of the attempted breach.
The princess has been recovering at home in Windsor after spending 13 nights at the hospital following the surgery.
She is not due to return to official duties until after Easter and was seen in public for the first time since January when she and Prince William went to a farm shop in Windsor on the weekend.
Making his first royal appearance since video footage emerged of them walking through the shop carpark, William referred to his wife’s absence. The future king was greeted warmly by wellwishers as he arrived for a visit in Sheffield, and he spoke of Catherine when the subject of formative childhoods was raised by an official.
Holding his palms up and smiling, he deferred to the Princess of Wales’s expertise and said: “That’s my wife’s area, she needs to be sat here.”
The bystander who filmed Catherine shopping lashed out at “delusional” online trolls, saying his footage should put an end to unfounded speculation about her health.
Nelson Silva told The Sun he saw Catherine “with my own eyes” looking relaxed at the Windsor Farm Shop.
A week since the princess admitted altering a Mother’s Day photo of her and her children, another royal snap has been withdrawn over claims it was doctored.
Global picture agency Getty Images said the official portrait from the 2019 christening of Prince Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, had been “digitally enhanced”.
Photographer Chris Allerton, who captured the image, vehemently denied the photo was manipulated.