Police have “been asked to look at” whether staff at The London Clinic attempted to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records, a minister has said.
The claims regarding records at The London Clinic where she recently received treatment are also being investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Maria Caulfield said there could be “hefty implications” for accessing the notes without permission, including prosecution or fines.
The health minister told LBC radio her understanding was that police had been contacted, although a Metropolitan Police spokesman said he was not aware of any referral to the force.
At least one staff member tried to access Kate, the Princess Of Wales's notes while she was a patient at the private hospital in central London in January, The Mirror reported on Tuesday.
The future queen was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.
Kensington Palace has not disclosed details of the princess’s condition but has said it was not cancer-related and that she wished for her personal medical information to remain private.
The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a report of a breach.
“We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided," a representative of the ICO said on Tuesday.
Kensington Palace said: “This is a matter for The London Clinic.”
Kate’s absence from public life after her operation has led to conspiracy theories on social media about her whereabouts and health.
Footage emerged of her out shopping with the Prince of Wales at the weekend at the Windsor Farm Shop close to their Adelaide cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The royal couple also spent Sunday morning watching their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at a sporting event, according to The Sun.
Online speculation increased after irregularities were noticed in a Mother’s Day photograph of the princess and her children, which led to her admitting to “editing” the image and apologising for any “confusion” caused.
Kate, Princess of Wales’s red carpet style - in pictures
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The Princess of Wales wears an altered Alexander McQueen dress to attend the 2023 Bafta Awards in London on February 19. AFP -
The Duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress along with the diamond and pearl Lotus Flower Tiara for a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022. Getty Images -
Kate re-wore this white and gold Alexander McQueen gown for the 2020 Baftas on February 2, 2020 in London. Getty Images -
Kate wore a black and white off-the-shoulder column gown by Roland Mouret for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere on May 19, 2022 in London. Getty Images -
Kate wore a silk duchesse satin dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Baha Mar Resort on March 25, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Getty Images -
Kate's green tulle gown, worn for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King's House on March 23, 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, was by Jenny Packham. Getty Images -
Kate's magenta dress by the label The Vampire's Wife, worn for a special reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee on March 21, 2022 in Cahal Pech, Belize. Getty Images -
The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress to the 2019 Baftas, repeating it for the 2023 event. Getty Images -
The green Jenny Packham column dress Kate wore to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a re-wear from her 2019 tour of Pakistan. Getty Images -
Kate wore a decade-old Alexander McQueen dress for the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London. Getty Images -
Kate wore the Bond-themed 'Goldfinger dress' by Jenny Packham to attend the No Time To Die world premiere on September 28, 2021 in London. Getty Images -
Kate wore a green Jenny Packham gown to attend the Baftas on February 18, 2018, in London. Getty Images
The princess has been photographed in public twice since her operation.
In a picture published on March 4, she was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, in the Windsor area.
She was also seen sitting next to Prince William in a chauffeur-driven car last Monday, when he attended the Commonwealth Day service in London and she was driven to a private appointment.
It was reported at the weekend that the Princess of Wales may speak about her health during public engagements, which are not expected to resume until after Easter.
The Metropolitan Police and The London Clinic have been approached for comment.
