Margaret Thatcher’s death: Taiwan TV shows footage of the Queen while Thai TV uses Meryl Streep pictures

Margaret Thatcher’s death news has been broadcasted all over the world but a Taiwanese news station aired footage of Queen Elizabeth II while reporting the death of the former British Prime Minister.

CTi Cable flashed a headline declaring “Margaret Thatcher Dies of Stroke” while running two clips of the Queen shaking hands with members of the public.

The newscaster said: “We’ve learned the breaking news that ex Prime Minister, the Iron Lady, Thatcher, died at home in London due to stroke today, the 8th, this morning, at the age of 88.

“A spokesperson for Thatcher has publicly confirmed this news. What we know is that Thatcher has been suffering ill health in recent years.

“Since more than 10 years ago, she’s suffered numerous minor strokes. Just last December, she had surgery in London to remove a bladder tumor.”

It is not known why Cti Cable gave her age as 88, but it could either be an error or down to the Chinese custom of counting one’s age as starting with one when you are born.

The station apologized last night after viewers criticized the station for failing to distinguish between Margaret Thatcher and the Queen.

Meanwhile in Thailand, news producers for the country’s army-owned Channel 5 made a similar error, using a photograph of actress Meryl Streep when they reported news of Margaret Thatcher’s death this morning.

For nearly two minutes, the channel displayed Lady Thatcher’s biography alongside a picture of Meryl Streep in character for the film The Iron Lady, which tells the story of Margaret Thatcher’s life.

The production team wrote on Facebook later: “We will improve and develop our work more carefully and are deeply sorry.”

Margaret Thatcher died Monday at the Ritz Hotel in London aged 87 after suffering a massive stroke.