BBC journalist apologises for Queen tweet

NZ Herald

3 Jun, 2015 06:09 PM2 mins to read

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II . Photo / AP

Social media and some news agencies were sent into a fluster last night after a BBC journalist tweeted that the Queen had been hospitalised.

BBC broadcast Journalist Ahmen Khawaja quickly deleted a post which had announced Queen Elizabeth had been admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London.

She apologised, tweeting to her 7800 followers: "False Alarm: Have deleted previous tweets!! Phone left unattended at home. Silly prank, Apologies for upsetting anyone!"

But word of the Queen's hospitalisation spread and was picked up by some international media, such as CNN Newsource, The Independent reported.

The service of CNN, which claims to use more than 900 affiliates to "give you a dynamic newscast," tweeted: "Affiliates, please disregard our previous tweet about Queen Elizabeth. It was sent in error." about 9.10pm New Zealand time.

German tabloid Bild tweeted that the Queen was in hospital, which was quickly followed by a retraction.

The Daily Telegraph's Gordon Rayner tweeted: "The BBC appears to have accidentally announced the Queen's demise on Twitter. Statement expected shortly on what went wrong."

Buckingham Palace said the Queen had in fact visited the hospital - for her annual check-up.

"This was a routine, pre-scheduled appointment, the Queen has now left hospital."

British newspaper The Guardian reported the tweet, which read: "BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth is being treated at King Edward 7th Hospital in London. Statement due shortly: @BBCWorld," came after a royal death rehersal at the BBC.