London, June 9 (IANS) The mobile phone of Kate Middleton, duchess of Cambridge and Prince William's wife, was reportedly hacked by a private investigator working for a newspaper, a British daily said.

Scotland Yard is investigating the phone hacking claims and may include new allegations that Kate - whose name is Catherine - was among a number of targets of private investigator Jonathan Rees, who worked for the News of the World and other tabloids, the Daily Express reported.

Catherine was reportedly the focus of a surveillance in 2004, soon after she was identified as William's girlfriend.

In 2007, a private eye named Glenn Mulcaire was jailed for intercepting phone messages about William.

Sources also said Rees also targeted former prime minister Tony Blair.

They said the bank accounts of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, as well as those of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, were hacked.

Labour MP Tom Watson told the House of Commons: "The convicted private investigator Jonathan Rees targeted former prime minister Tony Blair for covert surveillance, and at least one former home secretary."

Palace officials have refused to comment on whether Catherine and other members of the royal family had been warned their phones or bank accounts might be hacked.