• Memorial services held for nurse duped by DJs in royal prank call

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    Jacintha Saldanha's son Junal, husband Benedict Barboza and daughter Lisha leave Westminster Cathedral in central London following a service of Thanksgiving for the life of the nurse on Saturday.

     

    By NBC News staff

    Updated at 9:17 a.m. ET: LONDON -- The family of a nurse who was duped into putting through a prank phone call to the hospital ward of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge delivered a tearful tribute to her on Saturday, saying her death had left "an unfillable void."


    Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found hanging from a wardrobe in staff lodgings at London's King Edward VII Hospital days after she answered the hoax phone call from two Australian DJs.

    Wiping away tears outside London's Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral where the family attended Mass, her husband Benedict said, "part of me has been ripped out." 

    "The events of the past week have shattered our lives and we barely have the strength to withstand the grief and sorrow," he told reporters, thanking Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, for kind words as well as Prime Minister David Cameron for a message of condolence.

    "Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life. Your loss is a very painful one and nobody can take that place in my life ever again. I love you and miss you forever."

    Her children Lisha, 14, and Junal, 16, spoke of a generous mother who had worked tirelessly to provide for them.

    Royal prank call: Duped nurse was found hanging, also had wrist injuries

    "The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there is an unfillable void in our lives," Lisha said. "We love you mum, sleep in peace and please watch over us until we meet again in heaven."

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    Lisha Saldanha, the daughter of late nurse Jacinda Saldanha, looks on as her family read statements outside Westminster Cathedral on Saturday.

    A private memorial service was held Friday at the King Edward VII Hospital, where Saldanha worked, and another at St Teresa's Church in Bristol, where the nurse's family lived.

    AFP - Getty Images

    An undated family photograph of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who died after being hoaxed by an Australian radio show trying to reach Prince William's wife in London, is shown to journalists in Shirva town, some 250 miles from the southern Indian city of Bangalore, on Dec. 8, 2012.

    "King Edward VII's is a small hospital, with a tight-knit team," John Lofthouse, the hospital's chief executive, said in a statement. "Everybody knew Jacintha, and we were all left deeply shocked by her tragic death following the hoax telephone call. Today's Service was a chance for everyone here to pay their respects and remember a dear colleague."

    Memorial services for Saldanha were held Thursday in India.

    Saldanha lived and worked in London during the week, but traveled to see her family in Bristol on weekends.

    She was found by a colleague and a member of security staff at King Edward VII's Hospital on Friday, coroner's officer Lynda Martindill told a formal hearing into the circumstances of her death called an inquest.

    DJs speak out, say they're 'heartbroken' over death of nurse in royal hoax call

    Police detective chief inspector James Harman told the hearing that the married mother-of-two had injuries to her wrists. 

    He also said that three handwritten notes were found, two at the scene and one among her belongings.

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  • Prince William: Kate feels morning sickness will 'go on forever'

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    Prince William and Duchess Kate are shown here after she was discharged from the hospital.

    By Eun Kyung Kim, TODAY contributor

    Severe morning sickness continues to plague the recently hospitalized Duchess Kate – who is now recovering at home – prompting her husband to curb his public appointments.

    Prince William cancelled a Sunday appearance at the British Military Tournament so he could stay at Kensington Palace with his wife, who is newly pregnant with their first child.

    The Duke of Cambridge commented about the severity of her illness just a night earlier when he went solo to London’s Royal Albert Hall for the Winter Whites Gala, a benefit for the homeless charity Centrepoint.

    “I don’t know why they call it morning sickness – they should call it all-day and all-night sickness,” he reportedly told the charity’s former chairman, Michael O’Higgins. “It’s a long old process but she is getting there. She feels like it is going to go on forever.”

    Duchess Kate is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare condition that hits pregnant women in the form of severe nausea, vomiting and other debilitating symptoms. She spent several days being treated for the condition at London’s King Edward VII hospital.

    She has cancelled all of her immediate public appearances until further notice, according to the palace.

    “It is well known that hyperemesis gravidarum often recurs,” officials said in a statement. “Until further notice, to allow the Duchess a degree of privacy during her pregnancy, we do not intend to offer regular condition checks or advise of routine developments."

    Meanwhile, the two Australian radio DJs who made a prank call to the hospital where the duchess was being treated have broken their silence over the death of a nurse involved in their hoax.

    The radio hosts had called pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles and were quickly dispatched to the duchess' private nurse. The woman who took the initial call was later found dead.

    DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who have since been taken off the air of 2DayFM radio, said the tragedy has left them “shattered, gutted, heartbroken.”

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  • DJs speak out, say they're 'heartbroken' over death of nurse in royal hoax call

    Still in shock that nurse Jacintha Saldhana took her life after being tricked by the Australian radio hosts' imitation of the Queen, the two DJs – whose radio show has been canceled – said they are 'gutted' and 'heartbroken.' NBC's Keir Simmons reports.

    By NBC News staff and wire reports

    Updated at 6:50 p.m. ET: CANBERRA, Australia -- Two Australian radio announcers who made a prank call to a British hospital treating Prince William's pregnant wife Kate broke a three-day silence Monday to speak of their distress over the death of the nurse who took their call.

    The 2DayFM Sydney-based announcers, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, said the tragedy had left them "shattered, gutted, heartbroken."

    Greig and fellow presenter and prank mastermind Christian have been in hiding since nurse Jacintha Saldanha's death and the subsequent social media outrage at their prank. Saldanha's death is being treated as unexplained while an investigation takes place.

    Greig told the “Today Tonight” program on Australia’s Channel 7 that her first thought when told of Saldanha's death was for her family.

    Prank-call radio station suspends DJs, ads; dead nurse's family 'deeply saddened'

    "Unfortunately I remember that moment very well, because I haven't stopped thinking about it since it happened," she said, amid tears and her voice quavering with emotion. "I remember my first question was 'was she a mother?'"

    "I've wanted to just reach out to them and just give them a big hug and say sorry. I hope they're OK, I really do. I hope they get through this," said a black-clad Greig when asked about Saldanha's two children, left grieving her death with their father Ben Barboza.

    Details of Kate's condition disclosed
    Saldanha, 46, was found dead in staff accommodation near London's King Edward VII hospital on Friday, three days after putting the hoax call through to a colleague who unwittingly disclosed details of Kate's morning sickness to 2DayFM's presenters.


    A recording of the call, broadcast repeatedly by the station, rapidly became an internet hit and was reprinted as a transcript in many newspapers.

    But news of Saldanha's death sparked the Internet firestorm, with vitriolic comments toward the DJs on Facebook and Twitter.

    Christian said his only wish was that Saldanha's grief-stricken family received proper support.

    "I hope that they get the love, the support, the care that they need, you know," said Christian, who like Greig struggled to talk about the tragedy.

    Radio station owner calls death of nurse who took royal prank call 'truly tragic'

    In a statement, the radio station's parent company, Southern Cross Austero, said it had suspended advertising on 2Day FM until further notice, ended the two DJs’ Hot 30 program, suspended prank calls across the company, and begun a comprehensive review of relevant company policies and practices.

    "The company does not consider that the broadcast of the segment has breached any relevant law, regulation or code. The company will fully cooperate with any investigations," the statement said.

    'Processes in place'
    Both Greig, 30, and Christian were relatively new to the station, with Greig joining in March and Christian having been in the job only a few days before the prank call after a career in regional radio.

    They said the idea for the call had come from a team meeting before the show. Greig said she did not think their prank would work.

    "We thought 100 people before us would've tried it. We thought it was such a silly idea and the accents were terrible and not for a second did we expect to speak to Kate, let alone have a conversation with anyone at the hospital. We wanted to be hung up on," she said.

    The DJs said the protocols established by the radio station’s parent company were followed before the phone call was made.

    “There are processes in place,” Christian said.

    Christian drew headlines only two weeks before the royal prank call by angering fellow passengers with a harmonica-playing stunt aboard pop star Rihanna's private jet.

    Complaints pour in
    Southern Cross Austereo has received more than 1,000 complaints from Australians over the actions of the popular presenters.

    Nurse who was duped by prank call about Duchess Kate found dead

    King Edward VII hospital in London is still reeling from being seriously punked by two radio DJ's who called and spoke to Kate's nurse. Meanwhile, the two Australians DJs apologized for their hoax. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

    The station said it had tried to contact hospital staff five times over the recordings.

    "It is absolutely true to say that we actually did attempt to contact those people on multiple occasions," said Southern Cross Austereo chief executive Rhys Holleran.

    "No one could have reasonably foreseen what has happened. I can only say the prank call is not unusual around the world," he said.

    John Lofthouse, chief executive of King Edward VII's Hospital, on Monday night issued a statement on the death of Saldanha, calling her "an outstanding nurse and a dearly loved colleague. " He said a memorial fund has been established in her name.

    Lofthouse added:

    "I know that the family have received huge support from their local community and church.  We will be holding a memorial service for Jacintha later this week. 

    We understand that the family are distraught and need time to reflect on the assistance they require.  King Edward VII's Hospital will remain here for them whenever, wherever and however they need us."

     

    Reuters contributed to this report.

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  • Australia radio station owner calls death of British nurse who took royal prank call 'truly tragic'

    After the death of a nurse who relayed the health of Princess Kate to Australian radio DJs, the broadcaster says it will cooperate with investigations. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.

    By NBC News staff and news services

    British police said Sunday they have contacted Australian authorities about a possible investigation into a radio station's prank call to a U.K. hospital about the Duchess of Cambridge.

    Meanwhile, the company that owns the station promised to review its broadcast practices.


     

    The prank took a dark twist Friday with the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, three days after she unwittingly accepted the call about the health of Prince William's pregnant wife, Kate. The death has sparked an angry backlash from those who argue the Australian DJs who carried out the hoax should be held responsible.

    The board of Southern Cross Austereo had an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss a harsh letter from the hospital that fell for the call. King Edward VII's Hospital, where the former Kate Middleton was being treated for acute morning sickness this week, condemned the "truly appalling" hoax and called the consequences "tragic beyond words."

    Max Moore-Wilton, the chairman of 2DayFM owner Southern Cross Austereo, said in a letter to the hospital's chairman Sunday that the company will cooperate with any investigation.

    He wrote:

    We are all saddened by the events of the last few days. They are truly tragic.

    It is too early to know the full details leading to this tragic event and we are anxious to review the results of an investigation that may be made available to us or made public. We can assure you that we will be fully cooperative with all investigations.

    As we have said in our own statements on the matter, the outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable.

    I can assure you we are taking immediate action and reviewing the broadcast and processes involved.

    Our Company joins with you, all at King Edwards VII's Hospital and Mrs Saldanha's family and friends in mourning their tragic loss.

    U.K.’s Metropolitan Police said Sunday it has contacted Australian authorities in connection with the investigation into Saldanha’s death. Australian police said they would cooperate. A New South Wales Police spokesman told The Telegraph: "As our policing colleagues in London continue to examine events leading up to the death of London nurse Jacintha Saldanha overnight, we will be providing them with whatever assistance is required."

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    The radio station callers impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and received confidential details about the former Kate Middleton's medical information. The call was recorded and broadcast.

    AP

    2 Day FM radio presenters Mel Greig, left, and Michael Christian are seen In this undated supplied publicity photo.

    Police have not yet determined Saldanha's cause of death or whether it was related to the call.

    Both DJs involved apologized for the prank before Saldanha's death. Their show has been suspended indefinitely and their Twitter accounts have been taken down after they were bombarded by thousands of abusive comments.

    The station's presenters have come under attack from around the world on social media sites and were "extremely distressed," a Southern Cross Austereo spokeswoman said.

    Both were keen to speak publicly about the incident, but were in too fragile a condition to do so, the spokeswoman added.

    The station has a history of controversy, including airing a segment in which a 14-year-old girl revealed that she had been raped. It also ran a series of "Heartless Hotline" shows in which disadvantage people were offered a prize that could be taken away from them by listeners.

    The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting, says it received complaints from around the world and is considering whether it should launch an investigation

    Separately, Prince William on Sunday pulled out of attending the British Military Tournament, billed as "the largest display of military theatre in the world", citing Kate's illness.

    Officials from St. James's Palace have said the duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant. The child would be the first for her and William.

    The radio DJs who prank called the hospital where Princess Kate Middleton was being treated are facing tremendous backlash following the death of one of the nurses who spoke with them. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.

    The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.

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  • Duchess Kate is pregnant with first child

    By Eun Kyung Kim, TODAY contributor

    Palace officials announced Monday that the duchess and Prince William are expecting an heir to the throne.

    The recurrent headline had become increasingly persistent in recent months, with the slightest lump in dress fabric or change in hairstyle generating a frenzied round of pregnancy rumors.

    This will be the first grandchild for both the royal and Middleton families.

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    The duchess was admitted Monday to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with hyperemesis gravidarum (or severe morning sickness), according to a release from the palace. As the pregnancy is in its "very early stages," Kate will stay in hospital for several days, the palace said, and then she will "rest thereafter."

    Hyperemesis gravidarum: 'You just feel like you're dying'

    A palace spokesman confirmed to TODAY.com that Kate's attendance at three upcoming engagements (the ICAP Charity Day in London on Wednesday, the Winter Whites Gala in aid of Centrepoint on Saturday and the British Military Tournament at Earl's Court, London on Sunday) has been cancelled.

    Neil Hall / Reuters

    Prince William leaves the King Edward VII hospital, where his wife is being treated, on Monday evening.

    News about the future heir should come almost as a relief to royal watchers who have scrutinized every public appearance by Kate, 30, for signs of a baby bump. The duchess sparked pregnancy rumors no matter what she did or where she went in the past year.

    Watch video: Duchess Kate's photos of William released

    The most feasible story emerged after the duchess used a glass of water instead of wine during two toasts at an official state banquet in Singapore last September. Prince William and others present raised glasses of wine.

    Most recently, speculation has arisen from her choice to wear long coats, lots of dark colors and looser dresses to hide her small frame.

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    The young royal couple, who wed in April 2011, have been very open about wanting to have children. Prince William has been quoted as saying he wanted two kids during that same visit to Singapore.

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    But they also have made clear that they plan to enjoy married life before becoming parents. That’s was made quite clear in photographs of the playful couple having fun at the Summer Olympics in London and, just before that, during the Queen’s Jubilee.

    Archive video: Britain celebrates the birth of Prince William

    Kate and William have had more childless time together than their predecessors. The prince’s mother, Princess Diana, got pregnant with William a few months after her July 1981 wedding. Prince Charles, the next in line to the royal throne, was born just days before Queen Elizabeth's first wedding anniversary to Prince Philip.

    The new baby will become third in line to the throne, following its father and Prince Charles. The child's birth also will bump William's brother, Prince Harry, down a notch in the sequence. 

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    The much-anticipated birth of the baby prompted recent changes in a centuries-old tradition known as primogeniture, which puts male heirs ahead of older sisters in the line of succession.

    That rule was recently scrapped, meaning that the newest royal addition, regardless of its gender, will succeed Prince William to the throne.

    Slideshow: Toddlers in tiaras: Royals and their babies

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    Kate and Will aren't the first royals to expect a bundle of (titled) joy. Click through to check out other mini-majesties and their proud parents.

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