The hospital where Kate Middleton was treated is at the centre of a huge security scandal after reports staff attempted to access the Royal’s private medical records.
Bosses of The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales underwent planned abdominal surgery in January, launched the investigation after it was claimed at least one member of staff tried to access the royal’s notes.
One insider at the hospital said: “This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the royal family.
“Senior hospital bosses contacted Kensington Palace immediately after the incident was brought to their attention and assured the palace there would be a full investigation.
“The whole medical staff have been left utterly shocked and distraught over the allegations and were very hurt that a trusted colleague could have allegedly been responsible for such a breach of trust and ethics.”
Kate is said to be aware of the alleged incident while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: “This is a matter for the London Clinic.”
It is a criminal offence for staff in any NHS or private healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the medical provider’s data controller.
The Met Police told the Daily Mail it was unable to comment without knowing if the clinic had reported the incident to the force.
The London clinic refused to speak about the claims but told the Mirror it firmly believes “that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information”.
It did not respond to questions from the Daily Mail about whether any staff had been suspended pending the investigation.
The clinic also did not answer when it was made first aware of the alleged security breach.
The probe comes amid a tsunami of speculation being made on social media about the Princess’ unknown health condition, which Kensington Palace said would see her out of action until after Easter.
Baseless and hurtful conspiracy theories have spread about her online including that she is dead, has been replaced by a body double or the Wales’ marriage is in trouble.
The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, which was “killed” by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concerns that it had been “manipulated”.
The furore on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.”
The hospital’s investigation comes just days after videos and pictures emerged on Monday of Kate and Prince William attending a farm shop in Windsor.
It showed a smiling Kate carrying a shopping bag as she walked swiftly from the shop, a mile away from their Adelaide Cottage.
While the film provided relief to millions in the UK — suggesting that the Princess’ recovery is on track — crazed trolls took to social media claiming that the video was not Kate but a body double.
Details of her condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.
Last week, friends of William and Kate said they “want to be clear and more open” about her health woes — but will only share with the public “when they feel ready”.
The Princess underwent the major surgery on January 16 and is expected to return to public duty after April 17, when her children start back at Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter Holidays.
“She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public. I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements,” a source told the Sunday Times.
“If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it. They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.”
Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is “doing well’ and will only provide significant updates.
There has been some speculation that the Princess could now make an earlier return and may even be seen walking into the annual Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor estate.
According to the Telegraph, the Princess has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday and could join her family for the traditional walk about, which would be photographed.
A palace source told the paper there had been “no confirmation either way” adding that anything else was speculation.
Tonight’s security breach is not the first time the Princess has faced public exposure of otherwise private medical records.
In 2012, two Australian radio DJs pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles in a prank call to staff at King Edward VII’s hospital, where Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness.
Not seeing through their impressions, night nurse Jacintha Saldanha patched them through to a nurse helping to treat the duchess.
The stunt, which drew out information about Kate’s medical condition, was broadcast in full. But it turned to tragedy when mother-of-two Mrs Saldanha was found hanged three days later.
The incident — and its tragic consequences — were known to have greatly affected the royal couple. In a letter written to Mrs Saldanha’s family, William said they were “so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation”.
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated earlier this year first opened its doors in 1932.
King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, also underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate at the hospital earlier this year. He was pictured smiling and waving as he left the building on January 29 alongside Queen Camilla.
The hospital’s illustrious list of previous patients includes Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and future US President John F Kennedy.
The clinic has a leading cancer centre that hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially launched by members of the royal family.
The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.
Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what was described as “abdominal investigations” in 2013, whilst Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, Kennedy, who was then a US Congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the clinic.
Taylor underwent a knee operation there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.
Other former patients include former Labour prime minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 — when he was leader of the opposition — for surgery on his prostate.
Another former PM, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gall bladder removed at The London Clinic in 1953, when he was foreign secretary.
Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was PM from 2010 until 2016, was born there in 1966.