'Colossal mistake': Sky News makes shocking error in report on Madeleine McCann

Sky News in the UK has apologised after an unfortunate blunder when Prince Andrew was pictured as its news anchor revealed developments regarding the latest suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

Dermot Murnaghan opened the station’s news program with the day’s top story however the footage broadcast to homes across the UK didn’t match up.

“We have actual evidence Madeleine McCann is dead. German prosecutors reveal more on their investigation into the suspect, Christian B,” Murnaghan told viewers as a clip of Prince Andrew was broadcast, wrongly implying he is involved in the case.

While it is unclear if he knew at the time, there is a look of shock on Murnaghan’s face as the broadcast returns to the studio, before he moves on.

Later in the bulletin, Murnaghan issued an apology to viewers.

“In the headlines at the start of this hour, we featured headlines in the wrong order,” he said.

"We included a picture of Prince Andrew in the headline about the investigation into Christian B, the German suspect in the Madeleine McCann case.

"We apologise for this mistake.”

The network’s opening story was regarding German authorities revealing they have evidence to suggest the missing British girl was dead, yet were needing further evidence to prosecute a newly identified German suspect with her murder.

Madeleine, aged three at the time of her disappearance, went missing on May 3, 2007 from a Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where she was holidaying with her family.

Prince Andrew appeared later in the show in a segment detailing his involvement with authorities over investigations into his relationship with sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in August 2019.

The Duke is accused of engaging in sexual activity with Virginia Roberts Giuffre who was underage at the time.

Social media reacts to ‘colossal mistake’

The blunder quickly made its way to social media, with hundreds of Twitter users in disbelief over the mistake.

“Someone at Sky is currently getting the bollocking of a lifetime,” one user who shared the clip declared.

“Saw this live earlier and nearly choked on my dinner!” one person wrote.

“That’s a colossal mistake,” another said.

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