BBC apologizes to Queen
The BBC has apologized to the Queen for suggesting in a trailer that she stormed out of a photo shoot with star American photographer Annie Liebovitz. (See previous post for full story).
The BBC now says that the sequence in the trailer was in the wrong order. What purported to be the Queen “storming out” of the session was, in fact, the Queen coming in.
While the Queen did object to being uncrowned by the photographer, it was not contentious, as the film sequence seemed to imply.
This story has gone large across the tabloid press this morning. The BBC should be ashamed of its unprofessional conduct and receives an unceremonious Royal Anecdotes slap across the wrist.
Good. I’m joining the Royal Anecdotes slap. But I prefer giving a kick butt
By Lilyfromfrance on July 12th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I agree with Lily.
By Trudie on July 12th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Okay, I’ll get my hard boots on instead.
By John on July 12th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I agree with Lily also. A slap across the wrist is utterly inadequate. I am appalled that the BBC would publish such an article without making sure it was accurate. Frankly, I don’t feel it should have been published even if it was accurate. These gaffes by journalists continue to discredit the entire news industry.
By Gigi on July 12th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
“While the Queen did object to being uncrowned by the interloper…”
Annie Leibovitz was hardly an “interloper.” She’s a luminously talented artist who’d been granted a portrait session with the queen. And from what I’ve read so far, it sounds as if the photographer was considerably better behaved than her subject.
By Aunt Pierre on July 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Aunt Pierre, you need to understand the British sense of humour to read our comments in the right way. It really isn’t the same as others’.
By John on July 12th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Absolutely John! I press the special button “British sense of humor” in my brain before talking to my cousins. Otherwise, I would be upset all the time!
By Lilyfromfrance on July 12th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
John make sure those hard boots have steel toes!!!
By Trudie on July 12th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Titanium tips, Trudie.
By John on July 12th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
“Aunt Pierre, you need to understand the British sense of humour to read our comments in the right way.”
Good point, John. I spent a year at the University of Sussex way back when and was struck by the humor divide. It took me a while to get my friends’ jokes, and I’m not sure if I ever got theirs. Sorry if I overreacted! I was feeling a bit protective of dear Annie–a fellow Yank and one of my favorite photographers.
How do you get the emoticon to appear in your posts?
By Aunt Pierre on July 12th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Ooops! In my previous post, I meant to say that I’m not sure my friends ever got my jokes. Sorry for the confusion.
By Aunt Pierre on July 12th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
My jokes are so corny that no one wants to get them to begin with.
By Gigi on July 12th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
They aren’t Gigi!
I remember one of my post where I said that at least the Queen could only trust in her corgis since they dont sell stories to the press, and you replied with a great joke of yours, saying that you wouldnt put much faith in the padlock loyalty of the corgis, that you’ve read rumors that they tell for a dog biscuit or a meaty tidbit, and that everydog has his day. The image that came in my head was so hilarious that I couldnt stop laughing for hours
By Lilyfromfrance on July 12th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
By Gigi on July 12th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Here’s the video.
Tacky, tacky BBC.
By Marie on July 12th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I would love to know what heads are rolling inside the upper echelons of BBC. Someone ought to be fired for this. The PR people are going mad doing damage control, I am sure.
By Gigi on July 12th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Well, the man concerned, Peter Fincham — Controller of BBC1 — says he won’t resign unless pushed. Let’s hope someone starts pushing.
By John on July 13th, 2007 at 9:13 am
By Gigi on July 13th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Alas, they’ve barricaded themselves into BBC HQ, Gigi. I’m thinking of asking the Queen to order in the SAS.
By John on July 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
LOL I imagine Her Majesty would not be inclined to totally disregard your reasonable request.
I recommend tea time for this maneuver. They have to come out of their fortress for tea, don’t they? If all else fails, we can throw the chocolate layer cake at their heads and pummel them with crumpets.
By Gigi on July 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
My word, Gigi, you are a wild one when riled.
By John on July 13th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
By Gigi on July 13th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
That’s it, keep the scones for us.
By John on July 13th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
In former times, a request for the removal of a monarch’s crown resulted in an order for the removal of the subject’s head.
Is this true?
By thinista on July 14th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Removing a Monarch’s crown is symbolic of removing Kingship. In this case it wasn’t a crown, just a tiara, but it was part of the Garter outfit, so the Queen was right to be a little annoyed.
I don’t think Annie Leibovitz was ever in any danger of losing her head.
By John on July 14th, 2007 at 10:57 am