An anguished Prince William had sent a handwritten condolence note to the family of an Indian-origin nurse when she committed suicide after receiving a hoax call by two Australian radio jockeys seeking information on the condition of William's pregnant wife, Kate, in 2012.
Jacintha Saldanha was found hanging in her nurses quarters at the King Edward VII hospital in London after receiving a hoax call by an Australian radio station seeking information on the condition of William's wife, Kate Middleton, who was admitted there with morning sickness on December 7, 2012.
William's note, dated New Year's Day 2013, spoke warmly of the care Kate received.
"It is unbelievably sad and we both extend to and your family our deepest condolences," the Duke of Cambridge wrote.
It went on: "We were both very shocked to hear about Jacintha and have been thinking about her a lot recently. Many of the nurses spoke highly of her and I'm sure you know how great a nurse she was".
"Jacintha and her colleagues looked after us extremely well and I am just so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation," William wrote.
The news of the note emerged as her family marked the second anniversary of Saldanha's death today.
"The support of individual members of the Royal Family has been outstanding over the last two years. I had not seen Prince William's handwritten letter until I saw it in the newspaper today. It shows how caring and compassionate they have been about this family," said British Indian MP Keith Vaz, who has stood by the family as a spokesperson through the crisis.
