Victim of Royal prank call has been found dead

King Edward VII hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was recently admitted for acute morning sickness, has paid tribute to "a first class" nurse who has been found dead after falling victim to a hoax phone call. 

The nurse, named as Jacintha Saldanha, who was married with two children, was tricked into putting the prank call through from two Australian DJs pretending to be the Queen and Prince Phillip, who subsequently gained access to confidential information about the Duchess' medical condition.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a statement saying that they were "deeply saddened" by the death of the nurse.

John Lofthouse, the chief executive of the hospital, added: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague."

In a statement, the Metropolitan police said: "Police were called at approx 0935hrs on Friday, 7 December, to reports of a woman found unconscious at an address in Weymouth Street, W1.

"LAS attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Inquiries continue to establish the circumstances of the incident. Next of kin have been informed. The death is being treated as unexplained."