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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Apology over prince cancer story | Apology over prince cancer story |
| (10 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | "We unreservedly apologise both to him and to his family for making this distressing allegation and for breaching his privacy," it added. |
| Prominent apology | 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). | 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." | A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "We welcome the apology from the Evening Standard." |
| The PCC, an independent watchdog which deals with complaints about the editorial content of newspapers, said the apology meant the matter had been settled without the need for a formal ruling. | The PCC, an independent watchdog which deals with complaints about the editorial content of newspapers, 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. | 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." | "The apology has been prominent and proportionate. And the PCC costs nothing to use." |
| Palace denial | |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |