Queen tweets reporter faces action
Tony Jones
June 4, 2015, 5:30 am
Queen tweets reporter faces action The BBC has apologised for any offence caused by the inaccurate tweet, which was picked up by a number of foreign news outlets, according to reports.
A BBC reporter is to face disciplinary proceedings after a tweet mistakenly claiming that the Queen had died was posted on the internet.
The BBC has apologised for any offence caused by the inaccurate tweet, which was picked up by a number of foreign news outlets, according to reports.
Another tweet wrongly claimed that the Queen was being "treated" in hospital and generated speculation on social media about the state of the monarch's health.
The tweets were posted on the day the corporation held a technical rehearsal for its future coverage of the Queen's obituary but the BBC stressed that tweeting was not part of the exercise.
By coincidence, the Queen was at hospital earlier today for her routine annual medical check-up.
Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of confirming the private medical visit after concerns were raised about her wellbeing following the tweets.
The messages were posted on Twitter from the account of BBC broadcast journalist Ahmen Khawaja, and it is understood she will now face disciplinary proceedings. Photo: Twitter
One tweet said: "'Queen Elizabrth has died (sic)."
Another tweet said: "Breaking: Queen Elizabeth is being treated at King Edward VII Hospital in London. Statement due shortly."
The journalist later deleted the tweets, apologised for what she described as a "false alarm" and suggested her phone might have been hacked.
Ms Khawaja tweeted: "Phone left unattended at home. Silly prank. Apologies for upsetting anyone!"
It is thought the messages might have been posted on Twitter by someone who thought the BBC's rehearsal was a real event.
