Australian station plugs 'biggest royal prank ever'

AUSTRALIA: An Australian radio station Thursday boasted of the "biggest royal prank ever", milking the publicity after its presenters got through to a nurse treating Prince William's pregnant wife Kate.

The embarrassing hoax by 2Day FM Tuesday made worldwide headlines and was condemned by the private King Edward VII's Hospital, which said it took "patient confidentiality extremely seriously".

Presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who posed as the Queen and Prince Charles, apologised after an uproar in Britain.

"We were very surprised that our call was put through. We thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents," they said in a statement.

"We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well." But the Sydney radio station was also making the most of the publicity, headlining a story on its website "Biggest Royal Prank Ever!", despite the hospital saying it was considering legal action.

"With some of the worst English accents in the history of radio, the Summer Hot30's MC and Mel managed to convince the staff at Duchess, Kate Middleton's hospital in London that they were the Queen and Prince Charles," it said.

AFP