The BBC apologises for revealing that the Queen raised concerns with ministers about the activities of the radical cleric Abu Hamza.
BBC 'regrets Queen disclosure'
25 September 2012 Last updated at 12:02 GMT
BBC apology to Queen over Abu Hamza disclosure
Breaking news
The BBC has apologised for revealing that the Queen raised concerns with ministers about the activities of the radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri.
The apology comes after security correspondent Frank Gardner told BBC Radio 4 details of a private conversation he had with the Queen.
On Monday, the European Court of Human Rights said Abu Hamza could be extradited to the United States.
The Home Office hopes this can be achieved within three weeks.
The Strasbourg court's decision means that the cleric and four other terrorism suspects can face terrorism trials in the US after delays going back to the late 1990s. In the case of Abu Hamza, he was first arrested in 2004.
Frank Gardner told listeners on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Queen had expressed her own concerns over the Abu Hamza affair to the previous Labour government.
He revealed that the Queen had told him in at a private meeting how she had been pretty upset that Abu Hamza could not be arrested. He said the Queen had told him she had spoken to a former home secretary about the case.
In a letter to Buckingham Palace, the BBC says that the conversation should have remained private and the BBC and Gardner deeply regretted the breach of confidence.
The letter adds that the revelations were "wholly inappropriate" and that Gardner was extremely sorry for the embarassment caused and had apologised.
Buckingham Palace and the Home Office have so far declined to comment.
COPY www.bbc.com
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