LISTEN: Australian radio show pranks Kate Middleton’s personal nurse
It was a prank fit for a queen.
A pair of Australian radio hosts managed to don convincing enough British accents to pose as England’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles and get through to Kate Middleton’s personal nurse at King Edward VII hospital.
Aussie DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian of Sydney’s 2Day FM obtained a phone number to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge is being treated for sickness related to her pregnancy. They were promptly connected to Middleton’s nurse after Greig, doing her best to mock the queen’s accent, asked to speak to her granddaughter.
Amidst snickers and a third radio personality barking in the background to mimic the royal Corgis, the hosts asked the nurse about Kate’s health and when they can visit her in the hospital.
“She’s sleeping at the moment and has had an uneventful night, she’s been given some fluids, she’s stable at the moment,” the nurse replied, seemingly oblivious to the rather comical impersonations.
The call went on for several minutes until the imposters bid farewell to the nurse, hanging up and erupting into laughter at the unexpected success of the prank.
The stunt prompted swift criticism from listeners who were outraged at the hosts’ attempt to invade the privacy of the royal family. Predictably, the hospital wasn’t amused either.
“This call was transferred through to a ward and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff. King Edward VII’s Hospital deeply regrets this incident,” a spokesman for the hospital said, according to TNT magazine.
John Lofthouse, the hospital’s chief executive added, “This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore.”
