Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
The husband of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who died by suicide after being caught in an Australian radio prank targeting Kate Middleton, once said he could “not forgive” those responsible.
Saldanha, 46, worked as a night sister at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London. In December 2012, she was deceived into putting through a call from DJs Michael Christian and Melanie Greig, who pretended to be Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles. The prank call led a colleague to share private details about the then-Duchess of Cambridge, who had been admitted with severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George.
The Hoax Call and Its Aftermath
The DJs were reportedly encouraged by producers at Sydney’s 2Day FM to carry out the stunt, which was later broadcast despite major ethical concerns. The station allegedly told regulators they did not believe Saldanha’s voice could be recognized.
Tragically, two days after the call went to air, Saldanha was found dead in her staff accommodation. Reports stated she left three handwritten notes, one of which directly blamed the royal hoax for her decision to end her life.
A Family Devastated
Following the coroner’s ruling that her death was suicide, her husband Ben Barboza spoke of his pain and anger.
“I am just really angry, why did they do that? Just a matter of three or four seconds changed our whole life,” he told The Guardian. “They were making some kind of mockery, saying: ‘OK, we fooled them.’ I can’t forgive the people who broadcast that.”
He added that his wife had carried the weight of humiliation and guilt. “It was the humiliation she felt, and the guilt. I go over that in my mind, over and over. She didn’t want me to know, to share that humiliation.”
Her son Junal also shared his grief: “Dad, my sister and myself miss our beloved mum every day, and will do so for the rest of our lives.”
In a letter dated New Year’s Day 2013, Prince William, then Duke of Cambridge, expressed condolences on behalf of himself and Kate. He described the situation as “unbelievably sad” and extended the couple’s “deepest condolences” to Saldanha’s family.
Fallout for the DJs
Michael Christian and Melanie Greig both faced intense public criticism after the incident, including death threats and lasting damage to their reputations.
Christian, who was made redundant earlier this year, has since launched legal action against Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of 2Day FM. His lawsuit claims the prank breached broadcasting codes, harmed his career, and subjected him to threats, while also alleging his redundancy was “not genuine.” He argues he was unfairly made “a scapegoat” and is now seeking compensation for lost earnings and damages.
Greig, who left the station long before her co-host, expressed understanding of Christian’s decision to sue but maintained her sympathy for Saldanha’s family. She has also called for greater reforms in how media organizations support their employees.
