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| Royal reporter James Whitaker dies | Royal reporter James Whitaker dies |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| I am sad to report that James Whitaker, regarded as the doyen of the royal reporting pack during the Princess Diana era, died this morning. He was 71. | I am sad to report that James Whitaker, regarded as the doyen of the royal reporting pack during the Princess Diana era, died this morning. He was 71. |
| As the Daily Mirror's royal editor for a generation, he was responsible for breaking a succession of exclusive stories. | As the Daily Mirror's royal editor for a generation, he was responsible for breaking a succession of exclusive stories. |
| He became well known as a TV commentator on the royal family, famously being dubbed the "big red tomato" by one of the princes due to his bulky skiing outfit. | |
| Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace said: | Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace said: |
| "James was a true Fleet Street legend who became famous around the world as a royal reporter. | "James was a true Fleet Street legend who became famous around the world as a royal reporter. |
| 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. Our thoughts are with his loving family who - like us all - will miss him terribly." | 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." |
| I worked twice with James - at the Daily Star and the Mirror - and he was a terrific colleague. Loud, funny and with an amazing enthusiasm for story-getting. | I worked twice with James - at the Daily Star and the Mirror - and he was a terrific colleague. Loud, funny and with an amazing enthusiasm for story-getting. |
| He built up a range of valuable contacts and there were periods at the Mirror when he was producing exclusive stories virtually by the day. | |
| For 20 years he worked closely with the Mirror photographer Kent Gavin. "We were not only colleagues but friends," he said this morning. "We travelled the world together and had a great time. | |
| "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." | |
| For several years James shared a desk with my wife, Noreen Taylor, then a Mirror feature writer, and she told eye-opening anecdotes about James's celebrity. | |
| He was regularly interviewed by reporters from across the world as the most knowledgeable of royal correspondents. | |
| He knew his worth and refused to be interviewed until he had agreed a fee. He always responded to telephone inquiries by TV and radio researchers by asking: "Am I speaking in my own time?" | |
| He was aware of his booming, plummy voice, often telling how an Australian newspaper had once described him as sounding as if he was a retired brigadier addressing a pair of deaf daughters. | |
| More soon |