A nurse who was duped into transferring a hoax call that gave away information about a pregnant Kate's health to Australian radio presenters has been found dead in what is being suspected to be a suicide case.        

The body of Jacintha Saldanha, who was working on the switchboard, was found this morning at an address yards away from King Edward VII Hospital, where Kate was being treated this week.        

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge issued a statement saying they are "deeply saddened" by the tragedy and said: "Their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time."         The King Edward VII hospital, who were not believed to be disciplining the mother of two over the incident, said it announced her death with "very deep sadness".        

"Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and well respected and popular with all over her colleagues," the statement was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.   Nurse Saldanha answered the hoax call at 5.30am on Wednesday morning, and was helping out on reception at the time of the prank.        

Giggling DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian were pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles and asked her if they could be put through to Catherine.   Jacintha connected them to another nurse who gave details of Kate's condition, who was suffering from acute morning sickness at the London hospital.         The presenters, from the radio station, remarked during their show how their efforts were the "easiest prank call ever made", as they put on mock British accents they later described as "terrible".