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Former Daily Mirror royal editor James Whitaker dies James Whitaker, former Daily Mirror royal editor, dies
(40 minutes later)
The former royal editor of the Daily Mirror and royal commentator James Whitaker has died, the newspaper has confirmed. The royal commentator and former royal editor of the Daily Mirror James Whitaker has died, the newspaper has confirmed.
Arthur Edwards, royal photographer at the Sun, tweeted about his death, writing: "He was a great man and a brilliant reporter."Arthur Edwards, royal photographer at the Sun, tweeted about his death, writing: "He was a great man and a brilliant reporter."
Mr Whitaker, who regularly commentated on royal affairs for television and radio, was in his 70s. Mr Whitaker, who was 71, most memorably broke the news that Princess Diana was suffering from an eating disorder.
He later wrote a book about her marriage to Prince Charles.
More recently Mr Whitaker, a regular commentator on royal affairs for television and radio, reflected on Prince Philip's place in the royal family, in a piece for the Mirror.
Colleagues and fans of the commentator have taken to Twitter to pay tributes.
Rose Nixon, editor of Hello! magazine, tweeted: "Terribly sad news today with the death of James Whitaker, royal editor extraordinaire.
"His energy and enthusiasm as a journalist and also as a husband, father and grandfather will never be forgotten.
"Rest in peace."
'Jovial approach'
Journalist and novelist Tony Parsons tweeted: "Goodbye and RIP James Whitaker: Daily Mirror Royalist, Diana watcher, Fleet Street legend and a man of boundless generosity and enthusiasm."
Parsons described him as an "old school, big-hearted Fleet Street hand" and added "even when you were doing jobs he could have done, he wished you love and luck".
In an article about Mr Whitaker's 70th birthday last year, Guardian media commentator Roy Greenslade wrote that Mr Whitaker was regarded as the "doyen" of royal correspondents.
"He succeeded in breaking so many exclusives because of his bluff and jovial approach to both royal aides and members of the family itself," he wrote.
Greenslade wrote that Mr Whitaker was one of very few journalists to have held staff jobs on all five of the popular tabloids - the Daily Star, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Sun and Mirror.