BBC apologises after using old footage of Boris Johnson at cenotaph

Bronwen Weatherby11 November 2019

The BBC has apologised after using old footage of Boris Johnson at cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

Footage from the 2016 event of the then-Foreign Secretary was used by the broadcaster instead of a clip from Sunday's proceedings.

BBC Breakfast said their use of the three-year-old footage was a "production mistake" and apologised for the error.

The footage was used after the Prime Minister was reported to have made two mistakes during this year's ceremony, including stepping out of line too early and laying his wreath upside down.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays a wreath
PA

Posting on Monday morning, BBC Breakfast's Twitter account said: "This morning on the programme we incorrectly used footage from a Remembrance Day service that was not filmed yesterday.

"This was a production mistake and we apologise for the error."

The Tory leader was captured taking part in the yearly Remembrance service alongside opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders.

Mr Johnson's handwritten message pinned atop his wreath read: "To the immortal memory of those who laid down their lives for us all."

Video coverage showed the PM turning the wreath upside down when placing it causing the message to end up at the bottom.

On the day, the royal family led the nation and its service men and women in paying respects to its war dead.

Prince Charles laid the wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the Queen. It is the second year in a row he has performed the duty for his mother.

A two-minute silence was observed at 11am before 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph.

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