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Apology over prince cancer story | Apology over prince cancer story |
(40 minutes later) | |
A newspaper has issued an unreserved apology to the Royal Family over a story that the Duke of Edinburgh had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. | A newspaper has issued an unreserved apology to the Royal Family over a story that the Duke of Edinburgh had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. |
The London Evening Standard said the "distressing allegation" was untrue and constituted a breach of privacy. | |
On Wednesday, it reported the prince, 87, had been diagnosed while being treated for a chest infection in April. | |
Buckingham Palace welcomed the apology and the Press Complaints Commission said the matter was now settled. | |
In its apology, the paper said the duke was "not suffering from any such condition". | |
"We unreservedly apologise both to him and to his family for making this distressing allegation and for breaching his privacy," it added. | |
Prominent apology | |
After the story appeared, the palace issued a statement saying it was a "serious breach of Prince Philip's privacy" and reported the case to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). | |
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "We welcome the apology from the Evening Standard." | |
The PCC said the apology meant the matter had been settled without the need for a formal ruling. | |
A PCC spokesman added: "The process has been quick: the final settlement was negotiated less than 36 hours after the original complaint was made. | |
"The apology has been prominent and proportionate. And the PCC costs nothing to use." | |
BBC News royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the apology was an "embarrassing climbdown" for the Evening Standard. | BBC News royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the apology was an "embarrassing climbdown" for the Evening Standard. |
He added that Buckingham Palace was anxious to draw "red lines" about what can be reported, and warn the media that they should intrude over those lines "at their peril". | |
Palace denial | Palace denial |
On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace took the unprecedented step of denying the front-page story, entitled "Prince Philip Defies Cancer Scare". | On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace took the unprecedented step of denying the front-page story, entitled "Prince Philip Defies Cancer Scare". |
The palace said that although it was its policy not to comment on rumours regarding the health of family members as they had a right to privacy, it had decided to deny the Evening Standard report. | |
In April, Prince Philip spent three days in King Edward VII's Hospital, west London, where he was treated for a chest infection. | In April, Prince Philip spent three days in King Edward VII's Hospital, west London, where he was treated for a chest infection. |