04/05/2017 BBC News at Six

Prince Philip has decided to step down from public

But it was business as usual today for the 95-year-old prince.

His decision is not health related and, as ever, his trademark wit.

He's been at the Queen's side for nearly 70 years.

They've carried out thousands of engagements together.

If we regard the Queen's rain so far as a success and I think we do, the

joint author of that success is the Duke of Edinburgh. His achievement

is unparalleled. We'll be looking at Prince Philip's

contribution to public life. Twins, but with such

different prospects. A special report on the hospital

that caused Olivia's The far-right Marine le Pen finds

herself in the thick I was pretty certain I was going to

die. And we speak to the surfer who's

now safe in hospital after a dramatic rescue -

he'd been stranded And coming up in the

sport on BBC News... Why European success is now

the priority for Manchester United over their league form as they plot

a route into the Champions League. Good evening and welcome

to the BBC News at Six. After nearly 70 years in the public

eye, Prince Philip has decided it's He'll retire from royal

duties in the autumn. His decision, which has

the support of the Queen, There have been tributes from public

and politicians alike, with Theresa May praising

what she called his steadfast In a moment we'll look

at the Prince's contribution to national life but first our royal

correspondent Nick Witchell It is an image to which the nation

has become accustomed over The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

side-by-side on official business. Today they were at a reception

at St James' Palace. The Duke a few steps behind

and there in support. Inside, meeting members

of the Order of Merit, I hear you're standing down. I can't

stand up much! Never mind standing down,

I have trouble standing up, he said. But, come the autumn,

his attendance at events like this After nearly 70 years of public

service, the Duke has decided, a few weeks short of his 96th

birthday, that it's finally time The Palace says the decision has not

been prompted by any particular concerns about his health,

and the evidence would support that. Yesterday he was at Lord's cricket

ground, opening a new stand The world's most experienced

plaque unveiler! Alongside all those

plaques he has unveiled Things like the Duke

of Edinburgh Award scheme. But his most important contribution

has been the support he has given to his wife,

the Queen, as she has become the longest reigning

monarch in British history. He has become the

longest-running consort. The Duke taking second place

to his wife in public, but her most constant and sometimes

forthright supporter in private. He has supported her by being

a very strong husband. And he has put her first,

and he has not tried to interfere in her work,

her work as Queen is her work. Soon though, the Duke's public role

will come largely to an end. Political leaders

paid their tributes. From his steadfast support

for Her Majesty the Queen, to his inspirational Duke

of Edinburgh Awards, and his patronage of hundreds

of charities and good causes, his contribution to our

United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world,

will be of huge benefit to us I wish him well spending time doing

the things he wants to do, as opposed to being required

to attend lots of events, some of which he may find very

exciting, some less so. He has dedicated his life to public

service and to supporting the Queen. I think he has more

than earned his retirement. Prince Philip, as well as

the support he has given the Queen and his own public service,

has done an amazing amount The Duke's retirement from public

duties will mean that other members of the royal family will step up

to support the Queen. It is likely she will be seen more

frequently at major occasions with the Prince of Wales

or Princess Anne. But those who know the couple

say it won't be quite The Queen will undoubtedly miss him

on public occasions. There is no doubt that when they go

out for a day together, Having been on tours with them,

having followed in the car behind them, at the end of the day they get

together into the car and he entertains her hugely,

telling funny stories about what has So she will definitely

miss all of that. And occasionally she will strike

us as a lonely figure. But she will be going back

to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral,

and he will be there. Slowly but surely, there

is a generational shift taking Officials have made it clear

the Queen will continue But at the age of 91 now,

her load is being lightened. As monarch, she is still

the central figure. But as today has underlined,

there is starting be tangible Prince Philip has accompanied

the Queen on countless state visits around the world and carried out

thousands of solo engagements. He's supported numerous

charities and organisations. The Duke of Edinburgh's

Award for young people, which he established,

now covers more than Prince Philip is also known

for his sharp wit and plain speaking Here's our Royal

Correspondent, Peter Hunt. Prince Philip has been an

unstoppable royal force for seven decades. While he is finally taking

it easy, the organisations he champions will continue. Millions

have benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme. When I

spoke to a decade ago it was modest about what he had achieved. I know

you hate the capital L Word but do you see it as an important part of

your legacy? Legacy?! No, I don't, it is nothing to do with me, it is

therefore people to use, I couldn't care less! And you would both argue

it is still relevant? Well the school is relevant, isn't it? And

the scheme? It is relevant as well because it is part of the process of

growing up. They have been growing up with his help since 1956. The

Queen's husband might be stepping down but he will not be backing off.

Everybody is entitled to step back a little bit and certainly his

retirement from public duties does not mean he will lose interest in

what we are doing and I will still have to be on my metal and report to

him regularly. He obviously has a genius for that sort of thing.

Skipping in a suit in the 50s might not have been his thing but links

with youth clubs he fostered in his young adult life he sustained into

old age. This youth club in London benefit from his support and from

his visits. He was quite a lively man and he make lots of jokes and

different things and he was talking to different people and he also had

a meal here would he really enjoyed and made good comments about the

food. Another of his quarters, the environment and conservation.

Princely passions Philip embraced long before they were mainstream

popular issues. Probably the biggest thing he has done is help us reach

lots of people globally in different parts of the world and bring

together really influential people to support conservation. He brings

people together. Travelling the world, here he was

with British troops in rack went in his 80s and that is also at an end.

The former naval opposite does not do bland cover his blood has

additionally got him into trouble will stop -- his bluntness. For his

critics he is a gaffe prone prince, the most notorious in a state visit

to China when her husband told students that if you stay here much

longer you will all be slitty eyed. Such public encounters with the

Potters Buttrey as the Prince putting people at ease will not

diminish, allowing him more time to enjoy the sport of carriage driving.

It is a friendship, there is no holds barred, I have had plenty of

disagreements with him, I don't mean nasty ones. Along eventful life on

public display is coming to an end. This princely pensioner can now

enjoy himself. Peter Hunt, BBC News. Out of the public eye but he does

still have a role? Yes, he certainly does and we should remember that the

husband of a Queen had no constitutional role, he has never

had that. His principal role has always been, as the Queen wanted

describes it, be Mike rentable strength and -- to be my principal

strength and stay. And he will continue doing that in private to

the Queen and she values is advice greatly. Neither should we forget

that sentence today that he may still choose to attend certain

public events from time to time. It will be decided on an ad hoc basis.

This is a man with still a considerable intellectual curiosity.

The idea he will step back and put his feet up after a lifetime of duty

and attending engagements is a false one. Nonetheless he has, as I

understand it, been thinking about this for some months and he wanted

to be by the side of the Queen for her 90th birthday last year but now,

close to 96, he is putting into practice what he said at his 90th

birthday, to wind down and step back a bit. As he does so, the younger

members of the Royal family will have to step up, more so than at the

present, to accompany the Queen as she continues with the public

engagements. Thank you very much. The BBC has learned that an NHS

trust has paid out millions of pounds in compensation

after errors in monitoring babies' heart rates during birth

led to brain injuries. At least five babies have died

at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust as a result

of similar errors. Last month we revealed

that the Health Secretary had ordered a review of maternity

services at the hospital. Now the BBC understands one law firm

has 27 open investigations into allegations that mistakes

in labour at the trust led The trust said the sums paid out

offer little insight Our correspondent

Michael Buchanan reports. They are now 11 and the older

they get, the less similar Beth is fit and healthy but Olivia

was born with a brain injury. Problems with monitoring her heart

rate and delays in delivering her She struggles to walk, can't talk

and has carers 24 hours a day. Our family life is not

the same as it should be. We've all had to make drastic

changes to our life. I wasn't able to go back to work,

I had to become a full-time... Well, I say a full-time mum,

a full-time carer, I think. And obviously I have two

children to look after. Olivia can't swallow

so is fed through a tube. All problems the Shrewsbury

and Telford Hospital Trust Similar errors have also left other

children with brain injuries. In 2015 we have learned a consultant

at the trust told a meeting that one compensation claim for ?4.4 million

related to CTG, or foetal Two other claims, he said,

worth ?144,000, were also due to failures to properly interpret

the babies' heart rates. Medical negligence lawyer

Beth Harrison says her firm has 27 open investigations into allegations

that the trust's maternity errors We are repeatedly seeing the same

mistakes again and again. There is generally a delay in acting

upon foetal distress. I also think there is a culture

of trying to push for a vaginal These women need a Caesarean section

and they aren't getting that. The trust has been under intense

scrutiny since we revealed last month the Health Secretary has

ordered an investigation following the avoidable deaths

of at least seven babies. Over the past decade we have learned

they have paid out nearly ?25 million in compensation

following maternity errors - among the highest figures

for similar units. The trust told us they would not

comment in detail in case they prejudiced the ongoing review

but did say claims can be and frequently are brought

and resolved many years And that the sums paid out in recent

years offer little insight into the maternity services provided

by the trust. Beth and Olivia will be lifelong

friends but basic maternity errors mean only one of them

will fully flourish. Beth is going to do all

the things that most other children do, or adults -

University, work, Olivia will never do any of those,

she will always live at home with us Michael Buchanan,

BBC News, Shropshire. Prince Philip retires from public

life at the age of 95. A bird's eye view of the albatross

as seen from space. Coming up on Sportsday

on BBC News... An exclusive with Usain Bolt

as he prepares to hang up those He tells the BBC what he hopes

his legacy will be. A surfer who survived for more

than 30 hours clinging to his board in the Irish Sea has been telling

the BBC what it was like to be stranded, convinced

he wouldn't be found alive. Eight rescue teams from these areas

were mobilised as part He was eventually spotted

by helicopter after drifting From his hospital bed,

Matthew has been speaking to our correspondent,

Chris Buckler, describing the last By the night-time, it

wasn't just my shoulder, Matthew Bryce is exhausted,

sunburnt and still recovering. But he's just thankful to have

survived after drifting alone in the Irish Sea for more

than 30 hours. I would say that's probably

a yellow surfboard so This picture, taken on Sunday,

shows him surfing off the West Coast of Scotland before he was pulled out

to sea by strong winds and tides. The current changes

and I can't do anything. All this time the wind is pushing me

further and further and further out. He ended up clinging

to his surfboard in the middle of the Irish Sea for a day

and a half. He was eventually found halfway

between Northern Ireland and Scotland just as the sun

was setting and a second I was pretty certain

that I was going to die. So as I was watching the sun

set, I had pretty much So I jumped off the board

and I lifted the board up And it flew over and I thought

they had missed me. This is the moment he was

rescued from the water. And his family could finally be

told that he was alive. You have this elation

and then, 20 minutes later, You don't know how unwell he is,

until we got that phone call from Matthew, just

to hear his voice. The search teams even managed

to recover his surfboard. Are you looking forward to being

reunited with your surfboard? I think we'll find

a good use for it. And that pledge to keep away

from the surf is one his family seem Chris Buckler, BBC News,

at the Ulster Hospital in Belfast. The two candidates vying to become

the next French president were back on the campaign trail today,

after clashing in a TV The centrist politician,

Emmanuel Macron, and his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen,

traded insults for two hours. He accused her of being a liar

and she accused him Our correspondent James Reynold

is in Northern France Marine Le Pen find yourself targeted

by both accusations and the eggs of protesters, the eggs might have been

easier to dodge. Critics accuse her of failing to discuss programme

during last night's debate, a charge she denies. TRANSLATION: The French

people know my programme pretty well, that is because it is very

clear and I have been presenting it to them for several years. I wanted

to lift the veil and I believe I did that successfully on who Mr Macron

is. Here, her message goes down well. 76-year-old Claude tells me

life needs to change. TRANSLATION: There is no work any more, there is

no money, I have grandchildren who do not have jobs, I have a kid who

doesn't have a job, we're in a real mess and it has to stop. This is

post-industrial France, the heartland of the Front Nationale.

This is Emmanuel Macron's -- Marine Le Pen's last gasp to close the gap.

She has been making the case for months, even years, but most of this

country still doesn't want anything to do with her. And that is why

Emmanuel Macron is a frontrunner. This morning he repeated a warning.

TRANSLATION: Marine Le Pen has shown she does not love liberty, she has

shown that and how she deals with journalists, in a position on

same-sex couples, on women and on the freedom of the press. And

Emmanuel Macron has won the support of one fellow liberal who knows what

it is like to face right-wing populists. I know that you face many

challenges and I want all of my friends in France to know how much

I'm rooting for your success. Because of how important this

election is, I also wanted to know that I am supporting Emmanuel Macron

to lead you forward. One March, the Villa France. Emmanuel Macron, here

visiting the factory in southern France, goes into the final days in

the lead. His supporters may be tempted to hold early celebrations

but the country has yet to vote. Voters have been arriving at polling

stations for local and mayoral Seats will be contested in all

councils in Wales and Scotland. Voters in England will select

new members of 32 councils and in six English regions

metro mayors will be The results are expected

from early tomorrow. To the United States now, where

a vote in Congress is attempting, for the second time,

to repeal Obamacare. The Republicans say

they are confident that they have enough to pass the reforms,

after Donald Trump Repealing Obamacare was all of the

key campaign pledges from Donald Trump.

Our correspondent Gary O'Donoghue is in Washington.

Is this a done deal? It looks like it will be third time lucky for

Donald Trump, twice this year he has marched his soldiers to the top of

the hill and had to march them down but they seem to have got the votes

this time as the final speeches are unveiled in the chamber. They have

done some arm-twisting and spend some money and giving concessions to

individual states and the right of the party is on board and the

moderates seem to be also. In a final pep talk this morning,

leadership and then in the basement in the capital and they played the

theme from the Rocky films. Only in America, you might think. If Donald

Trump gets this vote through, it will be a victory but that is not

the end of the war because it has to go through the Senate and the Senate

is a much tighter proposition, the Republicans only have a majority of

four and some of those Republicans are planning to change this bill.

Thank you very much. It's a species under threat -

the Northern Royal albatross. But anyone who wants

to count how many are left of rocks east of New Zealand

and you've got to be a climber Until now, because scientists

have come up with a new way of assessing them

- from space. Our Science Correspondent,

Rebecca Morelle, has the story. A little ungainly on land,

the albatross is a giant With its formidable wingspan,

it's easy to spot. Most albatrosses nest on islands

that are extremely remote. Now, though, there is a new way

to get a tally of the birds. Scientists are using a powerful US

satellite to zoom in on places like the Chatham Islands

in the South Pacific. Ultra high-res images can map areas

down to just 30 centimetres, which means each albatross appears

as a white dot. And this is the bird

that lives there. The satellite count has come

in at about 3600 nests. It's half the number

scientists expected. Albatrosses face a number

of problems and if we zoom out from the Chatham Islands,

we can see one of them. Ocean currents are circulating

plastic waste, which can prove Along with plastics,

fishing lines are also a major danger and so are pests like rats,

that prey on young chicks. Out of 22 species of albatross,

15 are under threat. The simple solution is to reduce

the number being killed at sea and there are ways

to restore their breeding sites as well, so what I am hoping

in the future is that these satellite images will actually be

able to show us that we direction for saving the albatross

as a whole. This isn't the first time

that satellites have We can now track the wildebeest's

migration from space. Southern right whales have been

monitored remotely, too, and the technology has even helped

scientists to establish the size For the albatross, researchers now

want to extend their territory Knowing how many birds there are now

will help us to track how It was a lovely day for a large

swathes of the UK, this is the view from the Moray Firth. It was not

sunny for all, Southern counties were cloudy but essentially dry and

here is the view from space, a lovely day for the Midlands and

northwards. This is a thick cloud and is potential for odd spots of

rain in the south-east over the next few hours. Lighter winds and clearer

skies further north, a good recipe for a chilly night. No problems in

towns and cities, it is rural parts, with rural Scotland dipping below

freezing. A bad start for most of Scotland, may be low cloud on the

north coast but inland it is fine with light winds and a beautiful

start for Northern Ireland and across most of Northern Lincolnshire

is to still light breeze from the North Sea and it is breezy across

southernmost counties. This is the cloud for the morning, not as much

as today but still some sunshine across South Wales and the South

Midlands. Many places are in for a dry day and evening, the cloud will

come and go and will stay dry everywhere and there are good spells

of sunshine from the Midlands northwards and more sunshine in

Wales. Cool on the North Sea coast but further west, 18 degrees.

Through the even there might be some rain developing in the Midlands but

also towards the far south-west but most places will be financed right

and the weekend looks like it will be trying, breezy on Saturday with a

cool field do things on the North Sea coast. One in western Scotland

and another dry day on Sunday. Lighter winds, cool on the North Sea

coast but with those winds it will feel pretty good. Thank you. Our

main story... Prince Philip retires from public life at the age of 95.

This decision is not health-related. It's goodbye from me,

and on BBC One we now join the BBC's