Kate Middleton has been revealed to be at the centre of a huge security breach, as hospital staff allegedly attempted to access her medical records.
The 42-year-old underwent planned abdominal surgery in January, and was spotted for the first time since the operation this week.
The Princess of Wales has remained out of the spotlight since her procedure, and is currently recovering at home.
According to a new report by the Daily Mail, staff at the hospital where Kate was treated attempted to access her private medical records.
Bosses of The London Clinic launched the investigation after it was claimed that at least one member of staff tried to access the Princess’ medical history.
One insider at the hospital said of the alleged breach: “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, and a spokesperson for Kensington Palace has 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.
An Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.”
The London Clinic refused to speak about the claims. but told The Mirror that it firmly believes “that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information.”
