My Love, My Life | Prince Christian & Madison Nolan

Chapter Nine: Cruel Prank Gone Wrong

December 7th, 2012 - Newnham Cambridge, The Nolan Family Home

⚠️TW - MENTIONS OF SUICIDE⚠️

Sitting with her parents and her two younger brothers, the Nolan family were currently staring at their television screen watching the latest headline that was just released.

"Her poor family." Madison said, feeling emotional by what has just occurred.

The Nolan family couldn't begin to imagine what the woman's poor family was going through right now. They still couldn't understand why this happened. And she couldn't comprehend why two radio DJ hosts had caused this cruel accident.

On December 4th, two Australian radio DJ hosts for the Hot30 Countdown radio broadcast, Mike Christian and Mel Greig, had called the hospital where Catherine had been staying at during the early stages of her pregnancy.

Mike and Mel had called the hospital and had spoken to the main nurse, Jacintha Saldanha; they were impersonating the Queen and the Prince of Wales in order to gain details about Catherine.

The cruel stunt had then been broadcasted on December 5th, after the radio hosts had gotten clearance by the radio stations lawyers.

Hospital chief executive, John Lofthouse had quickly learned of the cruel prank call, in which he then condemned it as a disgusting act of "journalistic trickery" and that no nurse should ever have to deal with while they were working.

CEO of Southern Cross Austereo Rhys Holleran had stated that station representatives had attempted to contact the two nurses in the recording at least five times before authorising the broadcast of the call with law professor Barbara McDonald of Sydney University. Nothing in his remarks suggested that the station knew they had to obtain "consent [to air the interview] in which they failed to get."

The radio station had issued a brief apology for "any inconvenience that was caused" by their actions. Unfortunately, Mike still continued to promote the cruel "royal prank" on Twitter. Saldanha nor the other nurse involved were disciplined or suspended by the hospital. St James's Palace had released a statement indicating that they do not blame the hospital nurses for their part in the incident.

It had been this morning that Saldanha was sadly found dead by hospital security and other members of staff in the nurse's quarters. She had died by suicide, and other injuries.

It was reported that Saldanha had left three handwritten notes, one of the notes that was written had blamed the radio stunt for her death. Another note had discussed her wishes for her funeral arrangements, and the last note was directed to her employer, criticising their handling of events that followed the prank call.

This entire situation is genuinely heartbreaking, Madison couldn't help but feel so upset for the poor nurse and what she was going through, and especially for her husband and two kids who were now left without their wife and mother.

Madison's mother Celeste was sitting right beside her daughter. Celeste couldn't help but feel so heartbroken for Jacintha and her family. A cruel prank that now resulted in a beautiful woman taking her own life and leaving a family without their wife and mother.

"I wish there was something we could do." Madison's father John said he couldn't begin to imagine what Jacintha's husband was currently going through.

As a father and a husband himself he wouldn't ever want to experience this. He never wanted Celeste or their three children to be left without a husband or father.

"Christian told me that William was planning to reach out to the family, offer help and support in any way he can." Madison mentioned.

There was heartache and disgust all around this unfortunate situation. Catherine's privacy was trying to be invaded and the cruel joke that the two Australian radio hosts made out of the innocent nurses who were involved.

"I asked Christian to send our condolences to the family on behalf of me and him and our family." Madison added, leaning into her mother's side for comfort. She couldn't help but think of Saldanha's poor children who were now left without their mother.

All everybody could do at this time was offer the Saldanha family their condolences and support during this difficult time.

- - -

After spending a week in her hometown with her family Madison returned to her and Christian's home in Beaumaris, Wales.

After driving up the driveway of their home, Madison needed to take a moment and just sit in her car. The events that have taken place recently have got Madison very emotional.

She just can't help but think about the Saldanha family and what they're currently going through with the loss of their wife, mother, daughter, and friend.

And then suddenly tears just start slowly pouring down Madison's face. Despite the fact that Madison has never met or heard of Jacintha until now she couldn't help but feel so heartbroken at what has happened to her.

All because two radio hosts decided to pull a cruel prank pretending to be the Queen and the Prince of Wales to retrieve Catherine's medical records is just plain cruel. 

Christian was standing in the couple's kitchen watching as Madison had driven up their driveway, he waited for his fiancée to come inside, instead all he saw through the window was Madison crying.

Making his way outside to her car he carefully opened the passenger door and immediately got inside the car and pulled Madison into a hug.

"Hey. What's wrong Mads? What's got you so upset?" Christian asked, hugging and wiping away Madison's tears.

Madison leans into Christian, "This whole situation with the nurse from the hospital that sadly took her life because of a cruel prank." Madison stated. "I just can't stop thinking about her and her family and what they're currently going through."

Christian lets out a shaky breath, he doesn't like seeing his fiancée this upset. "It truly is heartbreaking. I sent our condolences to the family on behalf of us and your family."

Madison nods her head, "I wish there was more we could do for the family." Madison states.

"Me too Mads. Me too." Christian said as he lay his head on top of Madison's. The couple, still sitting in the car in a quiet but peaceful silence.

After a few minutes the couple eventually made their way inside and spent the rest of the night in each other's company.