# Kate Middleton is pregnant **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859 "2012-12-03T16:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/201 "2012-12-06T23:37:06Z")
I take it all back. On the news this evening I see they have both owned that it was a bad idea and apologized. That’s better. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/202 "2012-12-07T00:30:51Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Yeah, but we don’t know if anyone actually lost their job. Letting someone have info they shouldn’t have based on their accent is a warning offence, not firing - we do have laws about why you can be fired. I think anyone listening to the thing will realise that the nurse was really, really nervous, thinking she was talking to the actual Queen. A mild reprimand of some sort, maybe, is warranted. Also, I highly doubt the Royals would want anything to happen to her - it’s a PR disaster if anything does for a start - plus they are kind of used to privacy invasions, and this was a minor one. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/203 "2012-12-07T00:56:09Z")
San Vito: > [@](#): > > Kate’s mother’s name is Carole, which isn’t what you’d call regal. You’ve never heard of Carole King? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/204 "2012-12-07T01:51:36Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I think anyone listening to the thing will realise that the nurse was really, really nervous, thinking she was talking to the actual Queen. A mild reprimand of some sort, maybe, is warranted. Also, I highly doubt the Royals would want anything to happen to her - it’s a PR disaster if anything does for a start - plus they are kind of used to privacy invasions, and this was a minor one. At the hospital I worked at, releasing any health information to an unauthorized person is grounds for immediate firing with no warning or reprimand, whether or not the patient is a celebrity. We wouldn’t even acknowledge that a person had been admitted as a patient without specific authorization from the patient, except for some very unusual circumstances (like someone without ID who comes in unconscious, and then the practice was to contact the police about identification of the situation persisted). If the nurse was working in the US, she’d already be looking for another job. HIPAA (the US health information privacy rules) is pretty strict. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/205 "2012-12-07T02:30:21Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Cripes, hadn’t considered that option. > > I’m going for Elizabeth Diana Anne… (how many names do they get these days?). Kate’s mother’s name is Carole, which isn’t what you’d call regal. Tell that to King Carol of Romania!😛 > **[Carol I of Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_I_of_Romania)** > > Carol I or Charles I of Romania (born Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; 20 April 1839 – 10 October \[O.S. 27 September\] 1914), was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to his death in 1914, ruling as Prince (Domnitor) from 1866 to 1881, and as King from 1881 to 1914. He was elected Prince of the Romanian United Principalities on 20 April 1866 after the overthrow of Alexandru Ioan Cuza by a palace coup d'état. In May 1877, Romania was proclaimed an independent and sov... ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/206 "2012-12-07T02:38:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Yeah, yeah I get it. They didn’t mean to cost someone a job, _that’s_ what makes it funny. > And ‘Lighten up!’ is _the_ birdsong of the juvenile asshole, we’re all familiar with it. The second verse goes, ‘It was only a joke!’ > > And really, ‘her privacy is already trashed by the fact of her being in hospital, being world reported news’ and we are thereby entitled to be juvenile and boorish, (and treat a young woman like prey, as though we didn’t have mothers and sisters ourselves.) This seems the very definition of weak tea, in the reasoning department. > > You got anything else? Besides lacking the grace to be ashamed, or the maturity to own it as bad behaviour? > [@elbows](#): > > I take it all back. On the news this evening I see they have both owned that it was a bad idea and apologized. That’s better. You got anything else? Besides lacking the integrity to apologise to me for the ‘juvenile asshole’ insult? The second verse goes, ‘I didn’t bother to get all the facts!’ ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/207 "2012-12-07T03:07:45Z")
Oh I’ll apologize, most sincerely. However I was not _actually_ calling you a juvenile asshole. Only that your defense was what one always hears coming from the lips of such juvenile assholes as we have all met in life, I’m sure. I’m sorry if it was not clear enough for you. This prank however would qualify on both counts to me. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/208 "2012-12-07T03:33:57Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Yeah, but we don’t know if anyone actually lost their job. Letting someone have info they shouldn’t have based on their accent is a warning offence, not firing - we do have laws about why you can be fired. That may be true in normal cases, but is it the same when it involves royalty? No doubt the law says it’s the same, but how about in practice? If something like this happened in Thailand, the receptionist would be lucky to escape execution! Her entire family would probably be shunned as outcasts forever more and their property confiscated, whereas if someone wheedled some info about me, I’d just be told, “Shut up and stop complaining, you stupid farang!” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/209 "2012-12-07T03:56:22Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That may be true in normal cases, but is it the same when it involves royalty? No doubt the law says it’s the same, but how about in practice? If something like this happened in Thailand, the receptionist would be lucky to escape execution! Her entire family would probably be shunned as outcasts forever more and their property confiscated, whereas if someone wheedled some info about me, I’d just be told, “Shut up and stop complaining, you stupid farang!” I’m sure you realize that this doesn’t happen with British royalty. They’re constantly harassed by paparazzi and employees are endlessly tattling on their private lives. Have you ever heard of someone suffering serious consequences or their families getting shunned? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/210 "2012-12-07T04:09:54Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m sure you realize that this doesn’t happen with British royalty. They’re constantly harassed by paparazzi and employees are endlessly tattling on their private lives. Have you ever heard of someone suffering serious consequences or their families getting shunned? Oh yes, I know. Thais are usually astounded when they see how the British royalty are treated. But I was wondering if the family might have the clout behind the scenes to have the poor girl at the reception desk dismissed quietly. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/211 "2012-12-07T08:47:06Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Oh I’ll apologize, most sincerely. However I was not _actually_ calling you a juvenile asshole. Only that your defense was what one always hears coming from the lips of such juvenile assholes as we have all met in life, I’m sure. I’m sorry if it was not clear enough for you. This prank however would qualify on both counts to me. To consider that an apology **elbows** , I’d be happy to contemplate it from the warm, and deep perspective you’re coming from, but my head doesn’t disappear up my arse like yours does. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/212 "2012-12-07T09:33:25Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Oh yes, I know. Thais are usually astounded when they see how the British royalty are treated. But I was wondering if the family might have the clout behind the scenes to have the poor girl at the reception desk dismissed quietly. It’s not how our royal family behaves. PR is very important to them, having a disgruntled ex-nurse running to the tabloids isn’t exactly what they would wish for. > [@](#): > > That may be true in normal cases, but is it the same when it involves royalty? No doubt the law says it’s the same, but how about in practice? Royalty aren’t above the law. In theory and in practice. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/213 "2012-12-07T14:12:04Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > To consider that an apology **elbows** , I’d be happy to contemplate it from the warm, and deep perspective you’re coming from, but my head doesn’t disappear up my arse like yours does. Calm down dear… The rest of the world has yet to catch up with the subtle sophisticated humour of you botoxed (cite - Shane Warne), crybaby (cite- Kim Hughes) old lags. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/214 "2012-12-07T14:16:11Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Oh I’ll apologize, most sincerely. However I was not _actually_ calling you a juvenile asshole. Only that your defense was what one always hears coming from the lips of such juvenile assholes as we have all met in life, I’m sure. I’m sorry if it was not clear enough for you. This prank however would qualify on both counts to me. > [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > To consider that an apology **elbows** , I’d be happy to contemplate it from the warm, and deep perspective you’re coming from, but my head doesn’t disappear up my arse like yours does. Okay, both of you take it to the Pit if you must, but out of this thread now. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/215 "2012-12-07T15:04:24Z")
Um, maybe we were wrong about the receptionist - [she’s dead!](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-prank-call-receptionist-1478123) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/216 "2012-12-07T15:05:43Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Um, maybe we were wrong about the receptionist - [she’s dead!](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-prank-call-receptionist-1478123) :eek: :eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/217 "2012-12-07T15:44:01Z")
I came in to post the same thing. Poor woman. She was a nurse helping out on the switchboard that morning when the prank call came in. This article doesn’t say if had been fired. I got a feeling the hospital must have been pretty harsh. You can be sued or even prosecuted under HIPAA laws in the U.S. for disclosing patient information. [Nurse commits suicide.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244608/Kate-Middleton-hospital-receptionist-duped-Australian-DJs-prank-dies-suspected-suicide.html) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/218 "2012-12-07T15:46:17Z")
Damn. Beaten to the punch. I just arrived home, and there’s Breaking News on BBC that the nurse involved in the call is dead. Could the Star Chamber have been activated? I hope the Aussie DJs are in hiding. EDIT: Just saw the post above mine that indicates a suicide. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/219 "2012-12-07T15:52:12Z")
BBC just aired a live statement from the hospital CEO. He expressed much shock and sorrow and claimed (he said) that the hospital had been supportive of the nurse. No mention of lawsuits or dismissals. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/220 "2012-12-07T15:54:03Z")
A family devastated, all for a practical joke. That poor woman. Who no doubt took, her own professionalism and caring for Kate very seriously. And protecting her from people who would invade her privacy, as she worked in the royal favoured hospital. Likely had a security clearance she might lose, not to mention the infamy of having fallen for a hoax. I kind of feel sorry for the stupid DJ’s now too, they will have this ‘prank’ with them all their lives. That’s got to be pretty awful too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859.md?page=12)