A British data protection authority says it is probing claims that employees at a London private hospital where Princess of Wales was a patient before surgery for an abdominal condition sought to see her medical files.

A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said, "We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are evaluating the information provided."

That suggests at least one employee of the London Clinic may have tried to access Kate's details. The clinic performed an appendectomy on the princess on Jan. 16 and discharged her nearly two weeks later.

A spokesman at the palace, the official residence of Kate and Prince William, said: "Our position is that it is a matter for the London Clinic.

The hospital's chief executive officer, Al Russell, said they would carry out all the required civil, administrative, and disciplinary actions.

"There is no place in our hospital for people who willfully violate the trust of our patients or colleagues," he said.

"The police have confirmed it," declared Maria Caulfield, the Health Minister. "And I must warn anyone who tries to do it; there will be extremely serious legal consequences. Buckingham Palace shares an entrance with the London Clinic, which has a longstanding association with members of the royal family.

King Charles III was treated there in January for an enlarged prostate; before the palace, he said he had been diagnosed with cancer. Kate remained absent from public engagements for a longer period than expected, leading to a plethora of rumors and speculation. This was not helped, to her chagrin, by reports since retracted, which appeared to cast Kate in a poor light when she went shopping with Prince William in a farm shop.