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."

Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com

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 Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.

More world stories from NBC News:

• Suspect in US envoy's killing in Libya arrested in Egypt
• DJs in prank call over royal birth suspended
• Climate talks end with deal that's 'not where we want to be'
• PhotoBlog: Hero's welcome for Hamas leader back from exile
• Secretary of state talk opens Rice to criticism -- from left
• PSY will perform for Obama even after Anti-American rap

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Updated at 8:30 a.m. ET: An Australian radio station that staged a prank phone call to the hospital where Duchess Kate was being treated has suspended the radio hosts involved and pulled all advertising after a nurse who was fooled by the call was found dead.

Jacintha Saldanha, who was found dead Friday, is seen in a handout photograph from London's Metropolitan Police.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian, radio hosts on the station 2Day FM in Sydney, called King Edward VII’s Hospital earlier in the week and pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles — and obtained information about Kate's closely watched pregnancy. They were said to be "shattered" by Jacintha Saldanha's death.

The body of Saldanha, 46, who had transferred their call through to Kate's room, was found Friday.

Rhys Holleran, CEO of the entertainment group that owns the radio station, announced at a press briefing that the show was suspended.

"Southern Cross Austereo and the hosts have mutually decided that the show will not return until further notice, out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy," Holleran said.

"This is a tragic event, and one that we could never have foreseen," he said.

'Our beloved Jacintha'
Police said in a statement Saturday that an autopsy would be held next week and a formal inquiry into her death, called an inquest, would open at a future date at Westminster Coroner’s Court.

They released a statement on behalf of Saldanha’s family.

"We as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha,” the family said. “We would ask that the media respect our privacy at this difficult time.”

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

News of Saldanha’s death sparked a storm of outrage, including a flood of harsh comments aimed at the Australian hosts on social media, including these, published on Twitter. 

- "A husband without a wife and two kids without a mother! All thanks to you two @MelGreigHot30 & @MContheradio SHAME ON YOU! #royalprank" (@vratnay)"

- "Hope #MelGreig & #MichaelChristianrealise the consequences of their actions resulted in the death of a honest person#Jacintha #2DayFM"

- "Michael Christian and Mel Greig should never be allowed to broadcast again in the public domain for the rest of their lives, imbeciles!" (@ALG4"

Police have said the circumstances of Saldanha's death are unexplained.

Radio DJs impersonate royals, get lowdown on Kate

There were at least two online petitions calling on the two to be dismissed for "gross misconduct," the Herald Sun reported.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Austereo announced that it was suspending all advertising on the station. That news came after supermarket chain Coles and telecommunications company Telstra announced they were pulling their ads from the station.

Duchess Kate discharged from the hospital

Holleran said the company was not commenting on the case, except to express condolences over the tragedy.

"We're very confident that we haven't done anything illegal," he said Saturday. "What happened was incredibly tragic and we're deeply saddened and we're incredibly affected by that.'

He also expressed concern for the hosts, who he described as "shattered" by the events.

Follow Kari Huus on Facebook

More world stories from NBC News:

• Nurse who was duped by call about Duchess Kate found dead
• 'It pains me': Clinton decries plight of women in male-dominated countries
• Hamas leader returns to Palestinian territories for first time since 1967
• Nurse at Duchess Kate's hospital who was hoaxed by DJs found dead
• PhotoBlog: Shark fins from Canada sold as delicacy in China
• EXCLUSIVE: US behind Afghan 'insecurity,' Karzai says
• ANALYSIS: After 10 years of Karzai rule, has life improved in Afghanistan?
• Sex mobs target Egypt's women
• Africa's lion population plummets, study finds
• ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Updated at 2:33 p.m. ET: A nurse duped by a prank call made to the hospital where Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was treated for an extreme form of morning sickness was found dead Friday morning, the hospital said in a statement.

Two Australian DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian of Sydney station 2Day FM, called the hospital earlier this week and pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles asking to be put through to the ward. They were then given an update on Kate’s health by a nurse.

The woman’s body was found at an address in Weymouth Street, London, which is around the corner from King Edward VII Hospital on Beaumont Street. Police described the circumstance of her death as "unexplained."

“It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha,” said the statement, which was released by the hospital's public relations firm.

Radio DJs impersonate royals, get lowdown on Kate

“Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII's Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues,” it said.

“We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time,” it added.

A statement released by Saldanha's family asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

Many took to the radio station’s Facebook page, posting strong-worded comments criticizing the DJs’ behavior.

“Wherever you sit, just beg forgiveness,” a commenter named Mel Lacey posted.

“They should be sacked for the awful way they are handling the results of this prank,” William Stead, another user, wrote on the page.

Media company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) and 2Day FM released a statement saying they "are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII's Hospital and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and all that have been affected by this situation around the world."

The statement went on to say that CEO Rhys Holleran had spoken with the two DJs, who are "deeply shocked and at this time we have agreed that they not comment about the circumstances. SCA and the hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."

Duke, Duchess 'deeply saddened'
A spokesman for St. James's Palace said that William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Kate were “deeply saddened” by Saldanha's death.

“Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time,” the spokesman added.

John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, was quoted as saying in the statement that "our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends."

Duchess Kate discharged from the hospital

"Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague," he added.

Lord Glenarthur, chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital, said Saldanha was "a first-class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us."

"She will be greatly missed," he said.

The police and ambulance services said the woman, who they did not name, was dead when they arrived.

“Police were called at approximately 9:35 [a.m. local time, 4:35 a.m. ET] Friday … to reports of a woman found unconscious at an address in Weymouth Street,” a spokeswoman for London’s Metropolitan Police told NBC News.

“London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries continue to establish the circumstances of the incident,” she added.

The police spokeswoman said the death was being treated as “unexplained” until an autopsy was carried out.

Olivia Harris/Reuters

Police officers walk outside King Edward VII hospital, central London, Friday.

More world stories from NBC News:

• 'It pains me': Clinton decries plight of women in male-dominated countries
• Hamas leader returns to Palestinian territories for first time since 1967
• PhotoBlog: Shark fins from Canada sold as delicacy in China
• EXCLUSIVE: US behind Afghan 'insecurity,' Karzai says
• ANALYSIS: After 10 years of Karzai rule, has life improved in Afghanistan?
• Sex mobs target Egypt's women
• Africa's lion population plummets, study finds
• ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

The Sept. 15, 2012 edition of the Irish Daily Star had topless pictures of Britain's Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

The editor of the Irish Daily Star has resigned following an internal investigation into his tabloid’s decision to publish topless photos of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, while she was sunbathing in the south of France, the Irish Times reported.

Michael O’Kane, the editor, was suspended in September after investors of Independent Star Limited, the paper’s parent company, demanded O’Kane be removed from his position. Richard Desmond, whose Northern and Shell company co-owns the paper, demanded that the paper be shut down, according to the Times.

Following O’Kane’s resignation Saturday, the editors at the Irish Daily Star expressed a different view of the situation, according to itv.com: “Mr. O’Kane acted at all times in a highly professional and appropriate manner and in the best interests of the newspaper,” they said in a statement.

The blurry, long-lens photos of the princess and her husband, William, were originally published in Closer, a French magazine. At the time, a statement from St. James’ Palace in London said the couple was “hugely saddened” by the publication. The royals contended they had “every right to privacy in the remote house” where they were sunbathing.

The statement from St. James’ Palace even drew a comparison to Princess Diana, William's mother and the Princess of Wales: “The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to The Duke and Duchess for being so.”

The images were not published in Britain, nor were they published in the Northern Ireland editions of the Irish Daily Star. Northern Ireland remains under British rule.

Both co-owners of the Irish Daily Star had criticized O’Kane’s decision to publish the photos but the Independent News and Media, which has holdings in Ireland, Northern Ireland and South Africa, ultimately decided that shutting down the paper would be unnecessarily extreme, according to the BBC.

More world stories from NBC News:

• Scientists rush to save manta rays, the 'pandas of the ocean'
• Understanding the beauty and diversity of Raja Ampat, aka 'Underwater Eden'
• One of FBI's 10 most-wanted fugitives captured in Mexico
• Will American be next pope? US cardinals a factor
• The ghosts of Muranow: A journalist's mission to illuminate Poland's haunted past

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook