The veteran journalist was responsible for communicating the queen’s death according to the protocol determined by the chain
Experts say the BBC prepared the British on Thursday afternoon to relay the news of the death of Elizabeth II of England. After the doctors of the Royal House warned about the health of the monarch, public television activated the protocol they had already practiced on other occasions to announce the death of the monarch: the presenters dressed in black, the programming was changed and the content focused on the queen. Shortly after 7:30 p.m. (Spanish time), journalist Huw Edwards announced the news: “Just moments ago, Buckingham Palace announced the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.” More than eleven million viewers in the United Kingdom followed this moment on the small screen. After that, the national anthem was played and comedy shows were suspended. For ten days, Elizabeth II’s farewell will dominate all BBC programming.
Huw Edwards’ choice to report on the death of one of Britain’s most beloved characters is not trivial. He began his career with the network as an intern for news services in 1984 and became Parliamentary Correspondent for BBC Wales two years later. Since 2003, he has hosted the showpiece of the public channel, ‘BBC News at Ten’, which is offered in the evenings.
His face is known to the British, as he was also responsible for narrating other events of the 21st century. For example, the journalist told the Brexit referendum in 2016 together with veteran David Dimbleby; The Olympics; election nights, as well as other British monarchy appointments, such as the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the link between Harry and Meghan Markle; Prince Felipe’s funeral, or Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Few doubt the credibility of the communicator on public television, the BBC, which has a large following in British society and where, unlike Spain, changes of government do not imply an earthquake of layoffs in the company. Edwards, at 61, communicated one of the most significant moments in the history of English television, but just a year ago he addressed his withdrawal from the media in a radio interview. “The nightly news can be exhausting after 20 years, even if you still enjoy your work. But I don’t think I can last long. Because I think it’s only fair that viewers have a change in the first place.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
