London hospital staff ‘tried to access medical notes’ of Catherine, Princess of Wales

The Princess underwent abdominal surgery on January 16 and was in the hospital for 13 days.

While there, she was visited by the King who went in for treatment for the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which revealed cancer.

The allegations of a breach of the Princess’s medical privacy are said to have “sent shockwaves through the hospital”, which has advised and treated numerous members of the Royal family.

The Princess, who is still off work as she recovers from the surgery, has already been put under pressure as a result of worldwide conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts.

It is an offence for members of staff in a healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without consent or the permission from the organisation’s data controller.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has previously prosecuted people for it.

The Metropolitan Police have not yet confirmed whether they have been informed of the allegations.

Any breach of the Princess’s medical privacy will bring back haunting memories of a 2012 incident in which a nurse was tricked into giving a brief update about her morning sickness to prank callers from an Australian radio show who pretended to be the Queen.

The nurse, who had acted in good faith, later died by suicide.

The report of a new attempt to access her health records will be a further blow for the Princess of Wales, who has been under considerable pressure following her operation.

Growing conspiracy theories over her whereabouts were compounded by a furore over a doctored Mother’s Day photograph as she tried to recuperate at home.

She is due back on public duty at some point after Easter and was this weekend seen at the Windsor Farm Shop with her husband Prince William.

Palace sources have consistently emphasised her desire for privacy.