Yesterday’s announcement that Buckingham Palace was calling a urgent meeting in the wee hours of the morning sent media speculation absolutely off chops. Rumours abounded that a member of the royal family had died, but official protocol meant the powers that be remained tight-lipped well after the planet worked itself into a frenzy.
As soon as it was announced that 95-year-old Prince Philip was simply retiring from public duties, newsmongers worldwide clamoured to tell their audiences. That included A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw, who was live on air at the moment the information was passed around.
She definitely got the “standing down” bit right. Unfortunately, she misinterpreted who was standing down, and from what. As a result, Grimshaw assured viewers that Queen Elizabeth had abdicated the throne.
Ah, yes, the horrific convergence of urgent news, fielding a live cross, and trying to make sense of what your production crew is telling you. Cue a brief, stunned moment from the veteran broadcaster, and you’ve got an unfortunate and bloody cringe-worthy piece of telly.
At least she didn’t accidentally pronounce Jeff Goldblum dead, though.
Source: Mumbrella.
Photo: A Current Affair / Channel 9.
Photo: A Current Affair / Channel 9.
