In December 2012, the life of 46-year-old nurse Jacintha Saldanha changed forever after she answered a phone call at London’s private King Edward VII Hospital. On duty as night sister, she unknowingly put through a call from two Australian radio presenters posing as Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles. Their target was the then-Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who had been admitted for acute morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George.
Michael Christian and Melanie Greig, hosts on Sydney’s 2Day FM, later admitted they had been encouraged by producers to go ahead with the prank. Despite claims that attempts were made to obtain permission from the hospital before airing the segment, no proof ever surfaced that consent was granted. The call aired anyway, breaking broadcasting protocol and prompting public backlash.