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.
The presenters reportedly told regulators that they did not believe Saldanha’s voice would be identifiable. The hoax drew enormous media attention and, within forty-eight hours, Saldanha was found dead in her staff accommodation. In three handwritten notes discovered later, she reportedly listed the prank call and the shame she felt as contributing factors in her decision to take her own life.
A family left with grief and unanswered questions
Months later, after the coroner confirmed Saldanha’s death as suicide, her husband Ben Barboza expressed his rage and heartbreak. Speaking to The Guardian, he said he could never forgive those who broadcast the segment, describing it as a few seconds that had “changed our whole life”. He recalled how his wife believed she had failed in her duties and felt humiliated. Their son Junal later said the family misses her every day and will continue to do so for the rest of their lives.
At the time, Prince William sent condolences on behalf of himself and Kate in a letter dated January 2013. He described the events as “unbelievably sad” and extended heartfelt sympathy to Saldanha’s family, acknowledging the pain surrounding the tragedy.
Legal battles and industry accountability
More than a decade later, the story has resurfaced as Christian launches legal action against the radio station’s parent company, Southern Cross Austereo. Court filings allege the call should never have been allowed to proceed under Australian broadcasting rules and that management used the presenters as scapegoats when the scandal erupted. Christian claims his reputation and career suffered irreparable damage, that he received threats from listeners, and that his eventual redundancy was not legitimate. He is now seeking financial compensation, arguing his professional future was compromised by decisions made at an institutional level.
Greig, who left the station years earlier, has voiced sympathy for Saldanha’s family and acknowledged Christian’s right to pursue legal action. She has also spoken publicly about the need for media companies to provide better support to employees, especially when content goes wrong and consequences extend beyond audience reaction.
If you are affected by the issues raised in this article and need someone to talk to, emotional support is available. Samaritans can be reached anonymously, free of charge, at any hour by calling 116 123.
