Kate Middleton news: Police ‘to investigate’ Princess of Wales medical ‘breach’ as body double denies farm shop hoax – latest on royal family

Health minister Maria Caulfield said there are hefty implications” for accessing the notes without permission, including prosecution or fines.

Speaking on LBC radio on Wednesday, Ms Caulfield said: “I say this as someone who’s still on the nursing register, that the rules are very, very clear for all patients.

“That unless you’re looking after that patient, or unless they’ve given you their consent, you should not be looking at patients’ notes.

“So there are rules in place and the Information Commissioner can levy fines, that can be prosecutions, your regulator, so as a nurse my regulator would be the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council), can take enforcement action.”

Asked if the police should look into the matter, she said: “My understanding is that police have been asked to look at it – whether they take action is a matter for them.

“But the Information Commissioner can also take prosecutions, can also issue fines, the NMC, other health regulators can strike you off the register if the breach is serious enough.

“So there are particularly hefty implications if you are looking at notes for medical records that you should not be looking at.”

Police have “been asked to look at” whether staff at The London Clinic attempted to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records, a health minister has said.

Maria Caulfield said there could be “hefty implications” for accessing the notes without permission, including prosecution or fines.

According to The Mirror, an investigation has been launched at the private central London hospital after at least one member of staff tried to access Kate’s notes while she was a patient there in January.

The eyes of the world are once again on the top private hospital in London known for treating royalty, politicians and actors.

But this time the clinic will not welcome the attention after it was claimed that staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records.

Kate, 42, received abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in January.

The King, who is undergoing treatment for a form of cancer, was also treated at the centre for an enlarged prostate.

With such a high-profile roster of patients, discretion will be a top priority for the clinic.

Since Princess Kate underwent abdominal surgery in January, she has rarely been seen in public, prompting numerous conspiracy theories about her whereabouts.

Psychology lecturer and conspiracy expert Darel Cookson has explained the reasons behind these going viral.

In an interview with Sky News on Tuesday (19 March), Ms Cookson said: “The exposure online is phenomenal. So many people are seeing this. They see it from different sources and are more likely to take it on board.

“Research also tends to show that if we see people we relate to and know sharing conspiracy theories then we are more likely to believe them.”

Joe Lycett was among the comedians who made reference to the Princess of Wales’ absence from public life at a charity comedy event at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Birmingham comedian was joined by a host of British stand-ups including Kevin Bridges, Rob Beckett and John Bishop for the fundraising gig in aid of the Teenager Cancer Trust.

Before his set, Lycett briefly came down to the audience to experience their view as he noted he had never been to the venue, which is closely linked to the royal family.

As he received assistance from security to get back on the stage, he joked “I feel like a royal“, before quickly adding “Where is she?” causing the audience to bust into laughter.

He added: “Wrong place to say that I imagine. Do tweet me with any guesses.”

Later in the night, stand-up Paul Chowdhry joked about his confusion at people who severely edit their images on dating apps and later have to explain why they do not look the same in real life.

He quickly chimed in saying “who edited your pictures? Kate Middleton”, referencing the controversy after the princess personally apologised for the “confusion” over the digitally altered family photograph released by Kensington Palace.

An investigation has reportedly been launched at The London Clinic over claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records.

At least one member of staff tried to access Kate’s notes while she was a patient at the private hospital in central London in January, The Mirror reported.

The princess was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Details of Kate’s condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the princess wished for her personal medical information to remain private.

The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report.

An Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.”

Kensington Palace said: “This is a matter for The London Clinic.”

The Duke of Sussex could face consequences if he lied about taking drugs on his US visa application, former American president Donald Trump has said.

In a preview of an interview between Mr Trump and GB News presenter Nigel Farage on Tuesday evening, the Republican party’s presumptive nominee for the 2024 US presidential election said Harry should not receive preferential treatment.

Asked if Harry should have “special privileges” if he is found to have lied in his application, Mr Trump said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”

However, Mr Trump refused to be drawn on whether Harry could be forced to leave the US, where he currently lives with his wife and children.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said.

“You’ll have to tell me. You just have to tell me. You would have thought they would have known this a long time ago.”

It comes after Harry’s references to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare prompted a conservative Washington DC think tank to question why he was allowed into the US in 2020.

Heidi Agan even provided an alibi for where she was when the video was taken as she called on people to stop stirring up speculation that she says has sent her own social media channel “crazy”.

With the memory of their mother still casting a long shadow, both Harry and William are determined to do things their own way.

But, asks Tessa Dunlop, after a week of turmoil and many questions left unanswered, does this spell trouble in a world where there are now more palaces than major royal players?

Read Tessa’s piece in full here:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their royal duties in January 2020, but their profiles were higher on the royal family website until yesterday.