Boss of The London Clinic where Kate Middleton was treated says it will take 'all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps' over claims staff tried to access her medical records

Explosive claims that at least one staff member had attempted to access personal details about Kate following her planned abdominal surgery in January have prompted bosses at the prestigious hospital to launch an urgent review. 

Its chief executive, Al Russell, finally broke his silence this afternoon, saying in a statement: 'Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality.

'We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day.

'We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken.

'There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.'

The Princess is said to be aware of the allegations, while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: 'This is a matter for the London Clinic.' 

A huge security breach has allegedly taken place at the hospital where Kate Middleton (pictured in Feb 2022) was treated 

CEO Al Russell said: 'Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality'

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened its doors in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital when Kate was receiving treatment 

Prince William was seen at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield as his wife continues to recover

Earlier today the health minister Maria Caulfield, who is herself a nurse, said the rules were 'very clear' about the ban on accessing private medical information for no medical purpose. 

She told LBC: 'My understanding is that police have been asked to look at it - whether they take action is a matter for them.

'But the Information Commissioner can also take prosecutions, can also issue fines, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and other health regulators can strike you off the register if the breach is serious enough.

'So there are particularly hefty implications if you are looking at notes for medical records that you should not be looking at.'

Despite Ms Caulfield's claims, the Met said it 'was not aware of any referral at this time'. 

The princess was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Details of Kate's condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer related and that the princess wished for her personal medical information to remain private.

Earlier today, Ms Caulfield told Sky News that it is 'pretty serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don't have permission to'.

She said: 'Just to reassure your viewers, these rules apply to all patients, so there are very strict rules about which patient notes you can access.

'You're only allowed to access the patient notes you're caring for, and with their permission, and there's really strict rules.

'The Information Commissioner would take enforcement action against trusts or primary care practices, but also, as individual practitioners, your regulatory body... would take action as well.

'So it's pretty severe, and it's pretty serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don't have permission to.'

The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report.

An Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) spokesperson said last night: 'We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.'

Mystery shrouded the scandal last night, with the prestigious clinic refusing to answer when it was first made aware of the alleged violation or if the staff responsible had been suspended as it investigates. 

Insiders at the hospital, based in Marylebone, central London, said staff had been 'left utterly shocked and distraught' that a 'trusted colleague' could have carried out such a 'breach of trust and ethics'.

The alleged breach of privacy comes as crazed conspiracy theories emerged after the Princess recovered in private following her procedure on January 16. 

Disgraceful trolls on social media used Kate's decision to recover away from the public limelight as an opportunity to spread baseless and hurtful claims.

'Katespiracies' included claims she was recovering from a 'Brazilian bum lift' or in a coma, a theory sparked by a Spanish journalist. 

Other more sinister theories included that she was dead, had been replaced by a body double or that the Waleses' marriage was in trouble. 

The London Clinic could not confirm the exact date the alleged breach is said to have taken place but the revelation came a day after footage emerged of Kate out and about in Windsor over the weekend. 

King Charles walks out of The London Clinic in January following a three night stay in hospital after prostate surgery

Kate was recently filmed in Windsor by shopper Nelson Silva, 40 

Revealing the scandal, one insider at the hospital told the Mirror: 'This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family.

'Senior hospital bosses contacted Kensington Palace immediately after the incident was brought to their attention and assured the palace there would be a full investigation. 

'The whole medical staff have been left utterly shocked and distraught over the allegations and were very hurt that a trusted colleague could have allegedly been responsible for such a breach of trust and ethics.'

It is a criminal offence for staff in any NHS or private healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the medical provider's data controller. 

The Met Police told MailOnline it was unable to comment without knowing if the clinic had reported the incident to the force.

While the clinic refused to answer questions, it said it firmly believes 'that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information'. 

Details of Kate's condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Upon announcing that Kate was undergoing surgery Kensington Palace said the Princess would be out of action until after Easter.

Despite laying out a clear timeline, her temporary step back from work led to a tsunami of speculation being made about the her condition on social media.

The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother's Day, which was 'killed' by six of the world's top picture agencies over concerns that it had been 'manipulated'.

The furor on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.' 

Last week, friends of William and Kate said they 'want to be clear and more open' about her health woes - but will only share with the public 'when they feel ready'. 

The London clinic refused to comment on the claims but said told the paper it firmly believes 'that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information'

Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday

'She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public. I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements,' a source told the Sunday Times. 

'If she was going to do it, that's how she would do it. They appreciate the public's love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.'

Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is 'doing well' and will only provide significant updates. 

The Princess is now expected to return to public duty after April 17, when her children start back at Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter Holidays.

However, there has been some speculation that the Princess could now make an earlier return and may even be seen walking into the annual Easter Matins service at St George's Chapel on the Windsor estate. 

According to the Telegraph, the Princess has not ruled out joining her family on Easter Sunday for the traditional walk about, which would be photographed. 

A palace source told the paper there had been 'no confirmation either way' adding that anything else was speculation.

The hospital's investigation comes just days after videos and pictures emerged on Monday of Kate and Prince William attending a farm shop in Windsor.

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

It showed a smiling Kate carrying a shopping bag as she walked swiftly from the shop, a mile away from their Adelaide Cottage. 

While the video - shot by shopper Nelson Silva, 40 - provided relief to millions in the UK - suggesting that the Princess' recovery is on track - crazed trolls took to social media claiming the video was not Kate but a body double. 

The hospital's security breach revealed yesterday is not the first time the Princess has faced public exposure of otherwise private medical records.

In December, it was uncovered that a gang of hackers had tried to break into the computer system of King Edward's VII Hospital's, where Kate had previously been treated.

Just days before Christmas, the group threatened to release 'data from the Royal Family' unless they were paid £300,000 in the cyber currency Bitcoin. 

The ransom demand was made on the dark web, where the hackers posted images of what they claim are stolen files including X-rays, letters from consultants, registration forms, handwritten clinical notes, and pathology forms.

The gang said: 'Unique files are presented to your attention! Data from the Royal Family! A large amount of patient and employee data. Sale in one lot!!' 

In 2012, two Australian radio DJs pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles in a prank-call to staff at King Edward VII's hospital, where Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness.

Not seeing through their impressions, night nurse Jacintha Saldanha passed them through to a nurse helping to treat the duchess. 

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

The stunt, which drew out information about Kate's medical condition, was broadcast in full. But it turned to tragedy when mother-of-two Mrs Saldanha was found hanged three days later.

The incident – and its tragic consequences – were known to have greatly affected the royal couple. In a letter written to Mrs Saldanha's family, William said they were 'so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation.'

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated earlier this year first opened its doors in 1932. 

King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, was also underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate at the hospital earlier this year. He was pictured smiling and waving as he left the building on January 29 alongside Queen Camilla.  

The hospital's illustrious list of previous patients includes Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and future US President John F Kennedy.

The building at 20 Devonshire Place has seven main operating theatres and three additional theatres, as well as six specialty wards for surgeries in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics and spinal procedures.

The clinic can treat 155 conditions and has a leading cancer centre which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.

It also operated as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.

Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially launched by members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth II leaves the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on June 15, 2013

The London Clinic has previously treated Prince Philip. The late Duke of Edinburgh is pictured above leaving the private hospital in 2013

Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed

The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010. 

Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what was described as 'abdominal investigations' in 2013, whilst Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.

In 1947, Kennedy, who was then a US Congressman, was diagnosed with Addison's disease at the clinic.

Taylor underwent a knee operation there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.

Other former patients include former Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 - when he was Leader of the Opposition - for surgery on his prostate. 

Another former PM, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gall bladder removed at The London Clinic in 1953, when he was Foreign Secretary.

Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was PM from 2010 until 2016, was born there in 1966.