Foreign & 
 
Commonwealth 
 
Office 
17 June 2009 
 
 
Information and Technology 
 
Directorate 
   
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
Mr John Simpson 
Old Admiralty Building 
 
London 
SW1A 2PA 
By e-mail: mailto:request-12709-
 
[email address] 
Tel: 020 7008 0123 
 
Fax: 020 7008 1114 
 
E-mail: [email address]  
 
 
Dear Mr Simpson, 
 
Freedom Of Information Request 0438-09 
  
Thank you for you letter to the Freedom of Information team in which you asked: 
 
‘’Can you please confirm if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or British 
Embassies around the world attempt to inform foreign press when mistakes are 
made about the United Kingdom and its government. 
 
In particular, does our embassy in the United States of America ever seek to correct 
American press when they incorrectly call Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the 
"Queen of England". There has not been a "Queen of England" for over 300 years 
since the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Whilst this may of been allowed 
to continue in the past, in the 21st century with the growing separatist threat in 
Scotland and Wales how can this department responsible for representing the British 
people overseas allow such mistakes to continue which cause deep offence and aid 
the separatist cause without even trying to educate foreign press or correct them? 
 
 If the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not prepared to correct such major 
international organisations which should know better, Who is responsible??’’ 
 
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides a legal right to request any 
recorded information held by a public authority.  However, we believe the request 
you have made does not fall under the terms of FOIA.  It is our conclusion your 
enquiry should be treated as ‘’business as usual’’.  We have provided a response to 
your enquiry below. 
  
I can confirm that when the FCO, and our Posts overseas, come across obvious and 
serious factual inaccuracies in the reporting of the mainstream media we will make 
efforts to inform and correct journalists or their editors where appropriate. This will be 
handled by the London Press Office for UK media, and by the local Embassy or High 
Commission for media overseas.  That said, we simply do not have the resource 

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capacity available to actively search the world's media for all inaccuracies or errors, 
concerning references to the United Kingdom. 
  
When asked about UK life we direct enquirers, both from the Public and the Press, to 
the "About the UK" section of our Embassy websites. This section provides 
information on many aspects of the UK, including the Royal Family.  You can view 
this information on the Washington Embassy website at: 
http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/aboutuk/peoplepolitics/lawspolitical-system/theroyal-
family. 
   
I hope this addresses your concerns. 
  
Yours sincerely, 
  
The Information Rights Team 
 
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

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