BREAKING. BBC Understands that no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight, the Palace is understood to be ‘disappointed’.
BREAKING A palace source tells the BBC that senior members of the Royal family feel “hurt” by the announcement that Harry and Meghan are to withdraw from their current Royal roles. The source confirmed that no members of the royal family were consulted.
'The Meghan Myth is nonsense, with a generous sprinkling of spite, misogyny and some racism. The prince always wanted out. And together, with her brains and understanding and love, they think they have a way.'
William and Catherine, dozens of journalists and the Royal flight crew all got stranded in Lahore because of storms. Thanks to the brilliant work of
@ukinpakistan
hotel rooms were found, the tour rescheduled, buses and cars organised. Amazing work by the British High Commission.
BREAKING Harry and Meghan to no longer uses HRH titles; spend majority of time in N America; give up Royal duties and military commands; repay public money for Frogmore cottage; prince of wales to continue support; will attend royal family events at invitation of Queen.
UPDATE: A source close to Prince Harry tells BBC that he shared desire of naming his daughter ‘Lilibet’ with the Queen ahead of the announcement and ‘had she not been supportive they would not have used the name’. Palace source told BBC earlier that the Queen was ‘never asked’.
Feminism is for men too Meghan tells the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust on
#InternationalWomensDay
, a woman by a man’s side rather than behind him is not a threat.
Those of us on air could do nothing - nothing - without the brilliant ever-working teams we work with. I have colleagues who have barely slept as they make coverage happen. Thank you.
As the Queen’s coffin proceeds across Scotland live on air, it’s a good moment to say thanks to the hundreds of technical colleagues, engineers and producers whose names are rarely spoken but without whom the world would not see these astonishing scenes.
Six Pakistani ministers walked out of the
#RoyalVisitPakistan
British High Commission reception on Monday night
@bbcurdu
reports. They were reportedly annoyed at their place in the gathering. Commission response to follow.
What clot at
@BBCRadio4
thinks the insufferably bumptious
@JonnyDymond
has the right tone for these troubled times? Makes the British elite sound smugger than ever.
@BBCR4Feedback
BREAKING Palace source tells BBC that the Queen was not asked by Meghan and Harry over the use of her childhood nickname; reports suggested Harry had sought permission from Queen to call newborn ‘Lilibet’; but Palace source says the Queen was ‘never asked’
Here Are 20 Headlines Comparing Meghan Markle To Kate Middleton That Might Show Why She And Prince Harry Are Cutting Off Royal Reporters via
@ellievhall
BREAKING The BBC says it now has the ‘lost’ note from Princess Diana that is said to ‘clear’ the Corporation of blame for the way that the 1995 interview was obtained. BBC says it will give the note to the investigation.
Newsnight Politcal Editor, Chief Political Corr, Europe Editor, North America Editor, Presenter, troublemaker, sometime drinking partner, thoroughly decent bloke. Fare thee well
@BBCMarkMardell
Incredibly flattered, thrilled and generally overwhelmed by all the appreciative messages. Thanks
So, last world this weekend
#tw2
(or Tdubz to really close friends) tomorrow as I leave the BBC. Immensely proud of the programme, sad to leave my friends a brilliant & lovely team.
The tone of the correspondence
@guardian
has dug out suggests that today's hot constitutional mechanism, Queen's consent, is a little more than the formality that the Palace says it is
BREAKING The Queen, Prince of Wales, William and Harry will meet at Sandringham on Monday to discuss where next for Harry and Meghan. No guarantee of a result but officials say discussions go well. Meghan likely to join by phone.
In my 1500 despatch on
@BBCRadio4
about a reading of James And The Giant Peach I created a new person called ‘Dominic Cumberbatch’, apologies to both Dominic Cummings and one of the stars of the reading, Benedict Cumberbatch.
Putin always admired individuals who could change the world; now he has become one. These are the stories behind his story, a stupendous effort by a great team
@BBC_CurrAff
I could not have asked for a better colleague, will miss his editorial strength, his no-nonsense approach, his dry appreciation of the BBC and its occasional foibles.
After 47 fantastic years we will be bidding farewell to Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell, who will be retiring next year.
Nick has reported from across the world and presented key BBC News shows.
Thank you for your remarkable service!
Apologies are due - on
#bbcwato
today I said Road Runner plummeted through the air when he realises the cliff beneath has disappeared. My bad - it was of course Wile E Coyote. thanks to listeners who spotted this.
Now Prince Harry, who has worn the nation's uniform in combat and amongst death and injury, is openly sneered at across pages and feeds and memes. It is hardly a great national moment.
I mistakenly said that the King was wearing a Field Marshall’s uniform In today’s procession. This was wrong, He was wearing the full ceremonial uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force. I am sorry.
So far western sanctions haven’t crippled Russia’s economy. But they're biting & the pressure’s increasing. What does it feel like on the ground? My despatch for
#TalkingBusinessWeekly
with
@bbcaaron
Watch the programme in full on
@BBCiPlayer
Producer
@LizaShuvalova
In my online piece about Prince Harry and his allegations I incorrectly described the communications office of Kensington Palace as taxpayer funded. It was and is funded by the Prince of Wales through the Duchy of Cornwall. I am very sorry for this mistake. It has been corrected
The BBC’s 1969 anchor James Burke joins us at bluedot this year to discuss the live broadcast of the Apollo 11 landing, where he was the chief reporter on the BBC at the time of the momentous occasion.
Walking alone through a vast emptied courtyard, the only sound that of cameras snapping away. A gilded life certainly, but a strange and oftentimes unenviable one
#RoyalVisitPakistan
In a letter to the Times 5th March 2011 Prince Andrew’s then Private Secretrary said the Prince has known Epstein since the early 90’s. The Prince said it was from 1999. The Palace says he stands by his recollection of events.
Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior.
📷Aaron Chown/PA Images - see more at
#QueenElizabeth
What I don’t understand about these attempts to discredit the photo of Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts is, why now? If he had doubts about the photo, why did he wait so long to air them through friends? And why through friends, not the Palace?
On
#FrogmoreCottage
spending the headline on
@BBCRadio4
at 0730 was incorrect; the money from the Sovereign Grant did NOT pay for ‘fixtures and fittings’ but instead paid for structural work and refurbishment. Sorry for the mistake, it will not be repeated.
Apologies for chronic manspreading on
@BBCNews
from Jordan. Viewers should remain assured that no one else was seated anywhere near me. Perhaps for good reason.
‘What his new bride will soon discover—as no doubt Kate found when she was put on the treadmill - is that being a full-time royal can be dreadfully dull.’ Smart words from
@davidjmcclure
Wasn't Harry and Meghan's break-up from royal life inevitable? This is what I wrote (wryly) in May 2018 before the wedding and many other royal writers felt the same way at the time but were loath to rain on their parade
Buckingham Palace says the Duke of Edinburgh is expected to remain in hospital for several days; he is being treated for an infection; he is comfortable and responding to treatment.
Being a grown-up when there is Breaking News is half the battle. Getting it right with light and shade is the trick and no one on 24 hr news tv does it as well as
@BBCSimonMcCoy
Periodic reminder that the British media, with some excellent exceptions, is absolute trash, which disproportionately attracts talentless people who use their ill-gotten platforms to bait Muslims, refugees, immigrants, benefit claimants, trans people and other minorities.
Apologies to all those upset by my misidentification of Sydney as Australia’s capital on
@BBCr4today
just now, it is of course Canberra, a stupid mistake, blame grotesque fatigue + jet lag. And me.
For more years than I can count, the 6.35am political summary by Norman Smith has provided priceless moments of clarity, calm and insight.
@BBCr4today
just announced that it is his last day.
I will miss
@BBCNormanS
's scoops and sanity in equal measure. Best of luck, Norman.
She went to court to protect her privacy. Now she tells the whole world she is pregnant and releases a photograph. How celebrity now works. Tell stories on our terms or we’ll sue.
I’m delighted to be in Lusaka for
@bbcworldservice
World Questions
#bbcwq
with political and civic leaders taking questions from the audience - recording now for broadcast on Saturday at 1206 GMT
‘After four exhausting years, many voters simply wanted a presidency they could have on in the background’ - cool-headed and finely written analysis by
@NickBryantNY
Deeply saddened to see the back of a man I enjoy abusing more than any other.
@BBCSimonMcCoy
, an idiot could do your job and often has. But you are brilliant and I will miss you very much.
#wato
Disparaging remarks about a clown being in charge of Ukraine demonstrate again that
@JonnyDymond
's only qualification for his job at the BBC is that he is a complete tosser.
#Zelensky
#Ukraine
This is a key point. If you go to the US to say ‘we can’t be mates anymore’ do you stay at/visit the not-mate’s house? And why not just call? Epstein was by this point a convicted sex offender.