Buckingham Palace have made a formal written complaint to the press watchdog over claims made
Today’s newspaper front page
by The Sun newspaper which suggests The Queen is in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
The tabloid newspaper reports that Her Majesty voiced strong Eurosceptic views during a lunch with the former Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, five years ago in 2011.
According to the article, the Queen had a “bust up” with Nick Clegg over their views on Europe.
Mr Clegg has described the story as “nonsense” and says he has no recollection of this ever taking place.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have this morning written to the chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation to register a complaint about the front page story in today’s Sun newspaper.
“The complaint relates to Clause One of the Editors’ Code of Practice.”
The Editor’s Code of Practice is a set of guidelines that newspapers must follow, with clause One relating to accuracy. The clause states: “The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.”
It is required that “significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and – where appropriate – an apology published”.
The Sun’s front page today leads with the story, reading: “Queen backs Brexit”. The whole story revolves around a single unnamed source who talks about comments the Queen apparently made five years ago at a dinner.
The newspaper has also made an editorial column saying “We must know her views” referring to The Queen’s opinions on Europe. Some have pointed out the irony and hypocrisy of this, as The Sun just a couple of weeks ago slated Prince William for apparently offering his views on the EU referendum.
As monarch, the Queen must remain impartial and politically neutral at all times. Recently there was controversy after Prime Minister David Cameron said she “purred” when she was told the result of the Scottish referendum.
More gutter press muckraking designed to flog more of that rag and to agitate the largely apathetic masses. The Sun’s sordid editorial management could care a toss if these falsehoods embarrass the Queen.
You are so right Thomas Village! This is a perfect example of what the tabloids have tried to do to the monarchy by dragging them down into the mud. Her Majesty didn’t say any of this and she doesn’t deserve this treatment.