Our fact-checking process is proportional to the nature of the story, the seriousness of the claim and the potential harm caused by an error.
Verification
Reporters and editors should verify names, dates, titles, quotations, locations, chronology and other material facts against reliable evidence. High-impact claims should receive additional scrutiny and, where possible, confirmation from more than one independent source.
Primary Sources
We favor official statements, public records, court documents, transcripts, video, audio, direct interviews and other primary materials when they are available. Secondary reporting can be valuable, but it should be attributed and evaluated for reliability.
Claims From Interested Parties
Statements from palaces, representatives, publicists, political actors, advocacy groups and other interested parties are attributed to the source rather than automatically treated as established fact.
Rumors and Anonymous Claims
Royal and celebrity coverage attracts a high volume of rumor. We do not treat repeated speculation as confirmation. Anonymous claims should be evaluated for source proximity, motive, corroboration and public interest.
After Publication
Fact-checking does not end at publication. When credible contradictory evidence emerges, we review the story and update, clarify or correct it as appropriate under our Corrections Policy.