Kate Middleton's Pranked Nurse Death: Post-Mortem Set for Jacintha Saldanha as Hospital Announces Memorial Fund

London police schedule examination as inquiry continues into unexplained death of woman who took the infamous Australian DJ's call

By Gina Serpe Dec 10, 2012 6:24 PMTags
Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince WilliamJulian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images

The tragic death of Kate Middleton's nurse is getting one step closer to some closure.

The Metropolitan Police today announced that a post-mortem examination of Jacintha Saldanha, the King Edward VII nurse who took the initial infamous prank call placed by the since canceled Australian radio DJs last week, is scheduled to take place in London tomorrow.

The examination into the 46-year-old healthcare worker's death, still being classified as unexplained, will take place at Westminster Mortuary. Saldanha was found Friday morning after police were called to reports of an unconscious woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have already begun inquiries into her death in order to "establish the full circumstances" of her apparent suicide.

On his Facebook page, Jacintha's husband Ben Barboza wrote, "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances. She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India."

In the wake of her death, an outpouring of support for Saldanha has sprung up, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stating that they were "deeply saddened" by the tragedy. The Australian DJs who placed the call, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, also said they were "shattered, gutted and heartbroken" by the turn of events.

As for the hospital, it announced today the formation of the Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund.

"Jacintha Saldanha sadly died last week in tragic circumstances," Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of the hospital, said. "She was an outstanding nurse whose loss has shocked and saddened everyone at the hospital. Following discussions with her family, we have now established the Jacintha Saldanha Memorial Fund in her memory."

All donations made to the fund will go to Jacintha's family.