This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17037900
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| James Whitaker, former Daily Mirror royal editor, dies | James Whitaker, former Daily Mirror royal editor, dies |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| James Whitaker, the royal commentator and former royal editor of the Daily Mirror, has died following a battle with cancer. | James Whitaker, the royal commentator and former royal editor of the Daily Mirror, has died following a battle with cancer. |
| Writing on the Mirror website, editor Richard Wallace paid tribute to him as a "true Fleet Street legend". | Writing on the Mirror website, editor Richard Wallace paid tribute to him as a "true Fleet Street legend". |
| Mr Whitaker, who was 71, most memorably broke the news that Princess Diana was suffering from an eating disorder. | Mr Whitaker, who was 71, most memorably broke the news that Princess Diana was suffering from an eating disorder. |
| Buckingham Palace said: "Those in the Royal household who knew James were extremely sad to learn of his death." | Buckingham Palace said: "Those in the Royal household who knew James were extremely sad to learn of his death." |
| The journalist, whose family were with him when he died on Wednesday, later wrote a book about her marriage to Prince Charles titled Diana vs Charles: Royal Blood Feud. | |
| "James was a true Fleet Street legend who became famous around the world as a royal reporter," said Mr Wallace. | "James was a true Fleet Street legend who became famous around the world as a royal reporter," said Mr Wallace. |
| "His colleagues often joked that at times he appeared grander than the royals themselves - which, of course, he loved. | "His colleagues often joked that at times he appeared grander than the royals themselves - which, of course, he loved. |
| "Despite the severity of his illness, he never complained or went in for self-pity, but insisted he had a life well lived. | "Despite the severity of his illness, he never complained or went in for self-pity, but insisted he had a life well lived. |
| "Our thoughts are with his loving family who - like us all - will miss him terribly." | "Our thoughts are with his loving family who - like us all - will miss him terribly." |
| 'Big-hearted' | 'Big-hearted' |
| Former colleagues and fans of the commentator took to Twitter to pay tribute. | Former colleagues and fans of the commentator took to Twitter to pay tribute. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr 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". | Mr 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". |
| Rose Nixon, editor of Hello! magazine, tweeted: "Terribly sad news today with the death of James Whitaker, royal editor extraordinaire. | 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." | "His energy and enthusiasm as a journalist and also as a husband, father and grandfather will never be forgotten. Rest in peace." |
| Former Labour press chief Alastair Campbell tweeted: "In a profession of big characters, he was one of the biggest." | Former Labour press chief Alastair Campbell tweeted: "In a profession of big characters, he was one of the biggest." |
| 'Doyen of reporters' | 'Doyen of reporters' |
| Guardian media commentator Roy Greenslade wrote that Mr Whitaker was regarded as the "doyen of the royal reporting pack during the Princess Diana era". | Guardian media commentator Roy Greenslade wrote that Mr Whitaker was regarded as the "doyen of the royal reporting pack during the Princess Diana era". |
| As the Daily Mirror's royal editor for a generation, he was responsible for breaking a succession of exclusive stories, he wrote. | As the Daily Mirror's royal editor for a generation, he was responsible for breaking a succession of exclusive stories, he wrote. |
| "He was a terrific colleague. Loud, funny and with an amazing enthusiasm for story-getting," wrote Greenslade, who worked with Mr Whitaker at the Daily Star and the Mirror. | "He was a terrific colleague. Loud, funny and with an amazing enthusiasm for story-getting," wrote Greenslade, who worked with Mr Whitaker at the Daily Star and the Mirror. |
| Mirror photographer Kent Gavin told Greenslade: "He was, truly, a legend in his time. He had a great rapport with all the members of the royal family in spite of writing controversial stories sometimes. | Mirror photographer Kent Gavin told Greenslade: "He was, truly, a legend in his time. He had a great rapport with all the members of the royal family in spite of writing controversial stories sometimes. |
| "And he was respected by colleagues and rivals as well. He was just the best." | "And he was respected by colleagues and rivals as well. He was just the best." |
| 'Red tomato' | 'Red tomato' |
| In a previous Guardian article, Mr 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. | In a previous Guardian article, Mr 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Whitaker, who also worked for a time as a royal correspondent for ITV1's This Morning, was once dubbed the "red tomato" owing to his bulky skiing outfit. | Mr Whitaker, who also worked for a time as a royal correspondent for ITV1's This Morning, was once dubbed the "red tomato" owing to his bulky skiing outfit. |
| He was also a competitor in Celebrity Fit Club, winning the 2004 series. | He was also a competitor in Celebrity Fit Club, winning the 2004 series. |
| In total, his career spanned more than 40 years, the Mirror said, and he had described "the relationship and build up between Charles and Diana, when they were heading towards marriage" as a career highlight. | In total, his career spanned more than 40 years, the Mirror said, and he had described "the relationship and build up between Charles and Diana, when they were heading towards marriage" as a career highlight. |