Royal Family

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Royal Family

We devoted much of the programme to the crisis in the Royal family.

Kirsty Wark will had an exclusive extended interview with the Prince of Wales' Private Secretary, Sir Michael Peat. For the first time the Palace was offering a full response to the stories surrounding the collapse of the trial of former butler Paul Burrell, and allegations of rape against a royal servant.

Sir Michael talked about the enquiry into those events, which he announced and he responded to accusations that the Palace interfered with justice.

This was a rare, if not unique, insight into the operation of the Royal Family at a time of crisis. We examined the Palace's attempts to get the scandal under control, and looked at how the Royal family could better handle similar events in the future.

Watch or read the interview

Fire-Fighters Strike
The first fire-fighters strike will go ahead. Their leaders were accusing the Government of having deliberately provoked the stoppage, by making it impossible for the local authority employers to reach agreement with the Fire Brigades' Union.

It is a major test of nerve and organisation for Ministers, but how much support will they get from their own backbenchers to face down the FBU's 40% pay demand?

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