Row over Queen visit coverage

The Queen was welcomed by David Trimble and Mark Durkan

Northern Ireland's broadcasters have complained to the assembly over restrictions placed on the camera crews during the Queen's visit to Stormont.

BBC Northern Ireland, Ulster Television and Sky said camera operators were prevented from properly filming the Queen delivering her speech at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.

UTV, which supplied pictures of Tuesday's event, has sent a formal complaint, claiming that the restrictions ruined coverage of her historic address.

The Queen's face was obscured by assembly members as she stood on a podium to deliver her speech.

Perhaps the most important part of the visit wasn't captured for posterity

BBC source

A UTV spokeswoman said many viewers rang to say the Queen's face could not be seen as she called on politicians to work together for a better future.

"Unfortunately this was completely beyond our control as assembly security dictated these camera positions, making it impossible to film the Queen's speech as it should have been filmed," she said.

A BBC source said: "It is extremely disappointing that perhaps the most important part of the visit wasn't captured for posterity."

'Disappointed'

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid and Buckingham Palace were said to be extremely disappointed at the television footage of the keynote speech.

A government source said it was a shame there was "no good footage for posterity".

An assembly spokesperson rejected the criticisms, saying all the camera positions had been agreed with UTV beforehand.

"They were happy up until the Queen entered the estate. There was absolutely no complaints."

But UTV disputed this saying: "The one thing we would stress is that we didn't agree camera positions with the assembly. They were dictated to us despite our objections."