you shrewd and knavish sprite. and virtual shakespeare — using the latest technology to get audiences back into theatre. coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, a year on from the last match to take place in front of a full house, we look at the tragic impact of that game at anfield. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. prince william has made his first public comments since the interview with the duke and duchess of sussex was broadcast four days ago, saying the royals are "very much not a racist family". the duke of cambridge also revealed he had not yet spoken to his brother, but said he would do so. in the interview, meghan and prince harry said a member of the royal family had expressed concern over "how dark" their son archie's skin might be. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. it is an allegation which strikes at the very core of an institution, the purpose of which is to unify. the suggestion by the sussexes in the oprah winfrey interview of a racist attitude within the royal family has stung deeply. attitude within the royal family has stung deeply-— attitude within the royal family has stun deel . ~ . ~ ., ., stung deeply. what? white matter and so on a visit by — stung deeply. what? white matter and so on a visit by the _ stung deeply. what? white matter and so on a visit by the cambridges - stung deeply. what? white matter and so on a visit by the cambridges to - stung deeply. what? white matter and so on a visit by the cambridges to a - so on a visit by the cambridges to a school in east london, prince william took the opportunity gently to push back. sir, have you spoken to push back. sir, have you spoken to your brother since the interview? i haven't spoken to him yet, but i will d0~ _ i haven't spoken to him yet, but i will do. �* , ., i haven't spoken to him yet, but i will do. �* , . ., , i haven't spoken to him yet, but i will do. �* , ., ., , ., will do. and is the royal family a racist family. _ will do. and is the royal family a racist family, sir? _ will do. and is the royal family a racist family, sir? we _ will do. and is the royal family a racist family, sir? we are - will do. and is the royal family a racist family, sir? we are very i will do. and is the royal family a i racist family, sir? we are very much not a racist — racist family, sir? we are very much not a racist family. _ racist family, sir? we are very much not a racist family. like _ racist family, sir? we are very much not a racist family. like the - not a racist family. like the queen'sstatement - not a racist family. like the queen'sstatement on - not a racist family. like the - queen'sstatement on tuesday, william's comments were short and to the point — we are not a racist family. that is the message the family. that is the message the family wants and needs to be heard. and the evidence across decades of work by the queen in the context of the commonwealth and buy in particular the prince of wales here in britain, supports the proposition that equality and diversity are important to the royal family. even those with reservations about their recent performance accept that good work has been done. in recent performance accept that good work has been done.— work has been done. in terms of the prince of wales' _ work has been done. in terms of the prince of wales' previous _ work has been done. in terms of the prince of wales' previous work, - work has been done. in terms of the prince of wales' previous work, that| prince of wales' previous work, that can't be denied. we acknowledge that he has done some excellent work with communities. but he has done some excellent work with communities-— communities. but how damaging for the family is — communities. but how damaging for the family is the _ communities. but how damaging for the family is the loss _ communities. but how damaging for the family is the loss of _ communities. but how damaging for the family is the loss of the - the family is the loss of the duchess of sussex? i the family is the loss of the duchess of sussex?- the family is the loss of the duchess of sussex? i think it's a hu . el , duchess of sussex? i think it's a hugely. hugely _ duchess of sussex? i think it's a hugely, hugely missed - duchess of sussex? i think it's a . hugely, hugely missed opportunity. duchess of sussex? i think it's a - hugely, hugely missed opportunity. i know from my own personal perspective as a mixed—race woman, when meghan markle joined the royal family, i was so happy, so pleased. there was an opportunity for diverse communities to see themselves reflected in the royal family. the queen believes this is a matter for queen believes this is a matterfor the family to sort out. logically, she will take the lead to try to heal the family rifts. but there is another big challenge for them — to underline to the watching world that as william said today, this is not a racist family. and nick is here. four days after this interview was broadcast — prince william says he's not spoken to his brother, underlining the rift. i think that is right. it also underlines that they feel the need to let feeling subside for a days. it is a very big family rift. there is a lot of family hurt and anger, not least because of the reputational damage, abroad, particularly in the united states, damage to the institution which the queen has spent nearly 70 years protecting and nurturing. so how do you restore that? the traditional view, i'm sure, should be tojust let the facts speak for themselves. let people remember all the work we have done on equality and diversity. i would think, and the evidence today of william is, that perhaps william and his mother think we need to be more proactive. we need to be more assertive in saying that racism is wrong and we are not racist. this is wrong and we are not racist. this is the position in which the sussexes have put them. so restoring family equilibria is one part of the challenge, and i think the queen will take the lead in that. but repairing reputational damage is the other part, and they will all need to be involved in that. ihlick to be involved in that. nick witchell, — to be involved in that. nick witchell, thank _ to be involved in that. nick witchell, thank you. - the metropolitan police officer who's been arrested on suspicion of the murder of sarah everard has been treated in hospital for a head injury. he was injured while in custody, but is now back at a police station. detectives investigating the disappearance of 33—year—old sarah everard found human remains in woodland in ashford in kent yesterday. this afternoon, a police diving unit and sniffer dogs arrived at the scene. our special correspondent, lucy manning, is at new scotland yard. in the last few minutes, we have just heard from sarah's family, a statement released by the metropolitan police. it says, our beautiful daughter sarah was taken beautiful daughter sarah was ta ken from beautiful daughter sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this crime. they say, sarah was bright and beautiful, a wonderful daughter and sister. she was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable, someone who always put others first. and they go on that she was strong and principled, a shining example to us all. we are very proud of her and she brought so muchjoy to our lives. very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives. that statement in the last few minutes from the family on a day that the search in kent intensified. police officers bring flowers to the gates where their colleagues are searching as another policeman sits in custody still being questioned about the kidnap and murder. the flowers from the public, an attempt to give some comfort to sarah everard's family. they are still waiting for answers about what happened to the popular 33—year—old from york after she disappeared last week walking to her house in south london. how could the simple act of a woman walking home bring a massive police investigation to the remote countryside of kent, where human remains were discovered yesterday? this quiet, rural road in ashford the scene in ashford, the scene of intense police activity. forensic teams spread out across a wider area. divers and their equipment were brought in in this truck to help the search and portable offices brought in, suggesting this will be a lengthy investigation. the suspect lived 30 miles away from where police are searching, a diplomatic protection officer in his forties, an arrest that has sent shock waves through the force. an old garage in dover where he used to work and that his family used to own was cordoned off and searched by officers. the police are determined to do everything they can to find out what happened to sarah everard from the moment she went missing, notjust for her family's sake, but for all the women who feel unsafe walking alone at night. it is a disappearance that has touched many. the prime minister said he was shocked and deeply saddened. the home secretary added that every woman should feel safe to walk the streets without fear. but the reality, though, is that many don't. a private ambulance came onto the search site. removing their caps, the officers gave their utmost respect. for sarah's parents, sister, brother and partner, it is, as the head of the metropolitan police said, every family's worst nightmare. lucy manning, bbc news. the disappearance of sarah everard from a south london street last week has highlighted the issue of women's safety and prompted women to share their anxieties about being out alone. our correspondentjudith moritz has been talking to some women about their experiences. alison and adele are two of a group of women who run together in south manchester. last week, theirfriend was sexually assaulted here. it shocked them, but they say the police have been supportive, and it hasn't put them off running. women shouldn't change _ hasn't put them off running. women shouldn't change their _ hasn't put them off running. women shouldn't change their behaviour. i shouldn't change their behaviour. men need to change their behaviour. people like that need to change their behaviour, but women need to be out there. we shouldn't have to think about where we are going, who we are with. we should be allowed to run by ourselves on the canal, anywhere we choose, any time of day or night. anywhere we choose, any time of day or niuht. . , anywhere we choose, any time of day or niuht. , ., , or night. there has been a big debate online _ or night. there has been a big debate online about _ or night. there has been a big debate online about the - or night. there has been a big - debate online about the precautions some women feel they have to take when they go out on their own. anywhere by myself, i am constantly aware of men's footsteps behind me. barrister harrietjohnson had a huge response after posting on social media that every woman has walked home scared. the media that every woman has walked home scared-— media that every woman has walked home scared. the tweet came about because i home scared. the tweet came about because i was _ home scared. the tweet came about because i was walking _ home scared. the tweet came about because i was walking her _ home scared. the tweet came about because i was walking her myself. home scared. the tweet came about| because i was walking her myself and work. it was only 6.30 at night but it was already dark and because of everything that had been in the news, i became very aware of my own surroundings and it struck me for the first time how common it is for me to be aware of my own surroundings when i'm out by myself. the latest homicide figures show that 695 people were killed in england and wales in the year to last march, almost three quarters of victims were male, whilejust last march, almost three quarters of victims were male, while just over a quarter were female. the statistics also show that whilst it's likely for men to have been killed by an acquaintance or somebody they don't know, it's rare for women to be killed by a stranger and more common for a partner, ex partner orfamily member to have been responsible. but some criminologists argue that the homicide figures are only part of the bigger picture.— the bigger picture. statistics do not include _ the bigger picture. statistics do not include missing _ the bigger picture. statistics do not include missing people - the bigger picture. statistics do not include missing people or. the bigger picture. statistics do - not include missing people or people who have died in suspicious circumstances that are not categorised as murder. also, the rate statistics are absolutely horrendous. the stalking statistics are horrendous too. —— the rate statistics are horrendous. women's fears are real. in statistics are horrendous. women's fears are reat— fears are real. in the house of commons _ fears are real. in the house of commons this _ fears are real. in the house of commons this afternoon, - fears are real. in the house ofj commons this afternoon, mps fears are real. in the house of- commons this afternoon, mps listened in silence as labour'sjess phillips listed all the names of women killed in the uk over the last year where a man has been convicted or charged. ruth williams. the man has been convicted or charged. ruth williams.— ruth williams. the home secretary said that every _ ruth williams. the home secretary said that every woman _ ruth williams. the home secretary said that every woman should - ruth williams. the home secretary said that every woman should feel. said that every woman should feel safe to walk our streets without fear of harassment or violence. alison and adele say they will be out running again tomorrow. judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. more than 4.5 million people were waiting to begin hospital treatment in england at the end of january — that's the highest number since records began in 2007. the royal college of surgeons has called the situation "dire" — and says it will take a long time to turn it around. here's our health editor hugh pym. hospital wards devoted to covid, the surge in numbers of the last two months led to widespread cancellations of less urgent types of care and there is still a backlog from last year's first covid peak stock today's figures highlight again the scale of the problem. charmaine has severe arthritis and last year was hoping to have a knee replacement. she was told in november she would have to wait another 12 months. she is currently out of work and the task of finding a newjob keeps getting harder. devastated. i hate not being able to work. how do i say to a new employer, thanks for thejob, but may be in a couple of months, i might need three months off for a knee replacement?— might need three months off for a knee replacement? patient waiting for knowledge _ knee replacement? patient waiting for knowledge and _ knee replacement? patient waiting for knowledge and care _ knee replacement? patient waiting for knowledge and care have - for knowledge and care have increased over the uk. in england more than 304,000 had waited over a yearin more than 304,000 had waited over a year injanuary for hospital year in january for hospital treatment including outpatients. as of december, in scotland over 39,000 patients were waiting more than a year. in wales, which measures waiting times of over 36 weeks, it was over 226,000. in northern ireland, there were over 56,000 waiting more than a year, although this wasjust for waiting more than a year, although this was just for hospital surgery. the total waiting list in england is nearly 4.6 million, but health leaders believe there are millions more who will need treatment. we know more who will need treatment. - know there are other people who have not yet been referred, so they have not yet been referred, so they have not yet been referred, so they have not yet entered the waiting list. but that could be for all sorts of different reasons relating to the pandemic, and they may well surface over the coming months into the waiting list, thus growing it even further. ,, ., waiting list, thus growing it even further. . ., further. some cancer checks have been affected. _ further. some cancer checks have been affected. kate's _ further. some cancer checks have been affected. kate's routine - been affected. kate's routine mammogram was postponed because of the pandemic, but nearly two months later, she found a lump in her breast and then got referred for treatment. she breast and then got referred for treatment-— breast and then got referred for treatment. ,, , ., , . treatment. she thinks she was lucky. if time had passed _ treatment. she thinks she was lucky. if time had passed and _ treatment. she thinks she was lucky. if time had passed and i _ treatment. she thinks she was lucky. if time had passed and i haven't - treatment. she thinks she was lucky. if time had passed and i haven't had| if time had passed and i haven't had a mammogram for six months, i if time had passed and i haven't had a mammogram forsix months, i might have been in a worse situation. it could have spread further. there are people i have talked to who that has happened to. they were diagnosed late last year in the six months after the start of the pandemic, and it has already spread around the body. so i was very fortunate. i found the lump and reported it to my gp. ., , ., found the lump and reported it to my gp. ., ,.,, found the lump and reported it to my gp. kate is a supporter of the charity breast _ gp. kate is a supporter of the charity breast cancer - gp. kate is a supporter of the charity breast cancer know, . gp. kate is a supporter of the - charity breast cancer know, which estimates almost 11,000 are living with undiagnosed breast cancer due to covid—19 disruption. nhs england said there were more than double the number of cancer referrals in january than in the first wave last april and more routine operations carried out. the latest figures show there is a lot of ground to make up, as well as coping with the continuing covid challenge. hugh pym, bbc news. the latest figures on coronavirus shows 6,753 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means that, on average, the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 5,760. across the uk, latest data shows the number of patients in hospital with coronavirus is 8,977. 181 deaths were reported. that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average, 163 people have died every day in the last week from coronavirus. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 125,168. as for vaccinations, almost 244,000 people have had theirfirst dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period. it meansjust over 23 million people had theirfirstjab. and 1.35 million people have had both doses of the vaccine. norway, denmark and iceland have all temporarily suspended the use of the oxford—astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine. it comes after reports of blood clots among some who've had the jab. our medical editor fergus walshjoins me. that will worry a lot of people. do they need to be worried? the medical reuulator they need to be worried? the medical regulator says — they need to be worried? the medical regulator says there _ they need to be worried? the medical regulator says there is _ they need to be worried? the medical regulator says there is no _ they need to be worried? the medical regulator says there is no evidence i regulator says there is no evidence that this vaccine causes blood clots. there have been 30 cases among 5 million people who have received the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. no higher rate than you would get in the general population, and that is the same in the uk, where 11 million people have received the jab. when you have mass immunisation you are going to get sudden illnesses shortly afterwards and they need to be checked out. in denmark and austria two people died of blood clots shortly after receiving the jab, days afterwards. both people had doses from the same batch of 1 both people had doses from the same batch of1 million doses that was distributed to 70 eu countries. none of those doses came to the uk. some countries like italy have decided to suspend use of that one batch but big european regulators and regulators here see the benefits of immunisation far outweigh any potential risks. our top story this evening: prince william breaks his silence after the interview with the duke and duchess of sussex. he says the royal family are very much not a racist family. and coming up — the virtual show must go on! how the royal shakespeare company is bringing a midsummer night's dream to the stage using virtual reality technology. coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news: the cross code rugby legend sonny bill williams has retired from both union and league. the all black double world cup winner is making a return to the ring. lockdown has brought with it a puppy boom. as demand soared, so did prices, and fraudsters quickly spotted an opportunity. more than 6,000 people have been become victims of pet scammers in the past year. most answered adverts online from people claiming to have puppies for sale. they paid a deposit, and then never heard from the so—called seller again as angus crawford reports. you have put a massive hole in our hearts, like, now we are not going to be able to fill. a puppy she wanted to build a home around. i was going to call him humphrey. it's just awful. the scammer was totally believable, sent video and pictures. the price was good too — £1000. ashley even agreed a time to pick up humphrey, sent £200 as a deposit, then the messages stopped. i was heartbroken because i don't have any children. no—one has a bit ofjoy these days. we are all in lockdown, and to give that love and attention to something new in your family and it be taken away from you it's just awful. what do you think of these people? it's disgusting. across the uk there are many more cases like ashley's. since the first lockdown last year there have been 6,366 reports of pet scams, costing victims more than £2.4 million. in just a couple of days, we have managed to contact scores of scammers selling puppies for up to £1,200 each. some use really basic instagram or facebook accounts. others much more sophisticated websites like this one. they claim they are in leeds and susie is still for sale, but it's all fake. so, what have you got to say? you're ripping people off, people want puppies, they've set their hearts on puppies and you're ripping them off. well, that's quite unfortunate. you know where i am. just come and get me if you want to get me, but i've got to go now, so... we think he is outside the uk and there is little chance the police will ever track him down. say hi to rhubarb and her owner mandy, who is also a breeder. it's gut—wrenching. you feel very violated. she found pictures of rhubarb and herfather on pet—scam sites, stolen by criminals and used to trick buyers. it's happening to other breeders across the country. the number of upset people i've heard of who've lost money on deposits for puppies that, you know, their children were expecting to receive a puppy etc, so there is the emotional loss as well as the financial, and it's a real common story, and then to think you might have contributed towards that, it's awful. awful feeling. demand for puppies has never been higher. for many families, a bit of light in lockdown. for the scammers, just another business opportunity to exploit. angus crawford, bbc news. john lewis has warned of further "painful" store closures after making its first ever annual loss since it was created 150 years ago. the retailer made a loss of more than £500 million in the 12 months to the end of january. the closures would be in addition to eight already announced in 2020. sir keir starmer has launched labour's campaign for england's local and mayoral elections in may. in a speech this morning, he emphasised his support for nhs workers — and called for people on the nhs frontline to receive a payrise above the rate of inflation. a vote for labour is a vote to support our nurses, our doctors, our nhs staff, and to reward our key workers. when i clapped for our carers, i meant it. the prime minister clapped for our carers, then he slammed the door on them. a major study is underway to determine what the long term health effects of covid—19 might be. the genetic details of half a million people were already stored in the biobank uk database before the pandemic. now it is carrying out detailed scans of thousands of people to see how their organs might have been affected by the virus. our science correspondent, rebecca morelle, reports. searching for the after—effects of covid. these scans are part of the world's biggest imaging study, shedding light on the long—term impact of infection. this is brian shepherd, who is taking part in the research. the 71—year—old lives in gateshead with his wifejean. in november, he was taken to hospital with covid. when i got in the ambulance, my wife was standing on the pavement and you think, "will i see her again?" after five days of treatment, he was allowed home. but months later, he is still feeling the effects, and hopes the scans could explain why. we're all very proud to have taken part in it and feel our little bit can help some way along the line for the rest of the world. the scans are being carried out by biobank uk. it's a huge study that holds medical images, genetic data and health information on half a million people. now it's imaging 1,500 of these participants who've had coronavirus. they range from asymptomatic cases to those with long covid, who still feel ill months after infection. having these standardised scans both before and after infection, researchers will be able to investigate the direct effects of coronavirus infection on changes in both the structure and function of organs, which is obviously what we all want to know. these scans can provide vital clues about the impact of covid on different organs. the virus infects the respiratory system and damages cells in the lungs, so scientists will be searching for any scarring. they will examine the heart for inflammation or muscle damage and see if this is worse after a severe infection. the virus also affects the brain, and this study could pinpoint where in the nervous system these changes are happening. the brain scans can tell us whether there is evidence for inflammation in the brain that may be persisting, and whether there has been damage enough to actually kill nerve cells in the brain that may cause some shrinkage. these scans will be repeated over the coming years and made available to researchers all around the world. our understanding of the pandemic�*s health legacy is just beginning. rebecca morelle, bbc news. less than six months ago, the american artist mike winkelmann, known as beeple, was unknown to the art world. today his digital work "everydays — the first 5000 days" sold at christie's for $69 million. the collage of 5,000 individual images is the first—ever sale by a major auction house of a piece of art that does not exist in physicalform. the sale rocketed the 39—year—old into the top three most valuable living artists. it's almost a year now since the curtain came down in theatres across the uk. the royal shakespeare company opens a show at the portsmouth guidhall that allows audiences back in using virtual reality. spencer kelly — who presents the bbc�*s technology programme click — has been to see its final rehearsals. what hast thou done? it's a midsummer night's dream, but not as you know it. dream is a new performance inspired by both shakespeare's original play and the times we live in. as the actors move about, their performances are captured and used to animate puck, peaseblossom and the rest of the inhabitants of fairyland, and over 12 live performances the actors will partly improvise scenes based on which way the online audience chooses to guide puck through the forest. in many ways this is less like theatre acting and more like the kind of acting that hollywood performance have been doing in cgi films for quite a few years now. you can interact with a fellow performer in the same space but what you end up looking like — well, that's up to the digital artist. inexplicably, i've become a kind of power ranger i don't think was in the original shakespeare text. so, what are the differences between performing here and performing live on stage? on stage a lot of it is through eye contact, but if you cannot see that the two characters have eyes how else can you express that? how can you tell that you are talking to someone? that you are giving your attention, your energy, to them. is that a suspicious eye contact or is it a welcoming lovely to see you? this project has been in development for a couple of years now so rather than just being a stopgap while theatres are closed this is a full on r&d project to explore how theatre can continue to evolve. theatre has always innovated. i hope that the technology in a way becomes invisible so we can have cutting—edge technology drive it, but ultimately we want the experience of the audiences to be delightful, entertaining, magical and meaningful. dream runs until the 20th of march, without the weird power ranger. spencer kelly, bbc news. time for a look at the weather — here's sarah keith—lucas. it has been quite a while day of weather. not only have we had strong and disruptive winds, we have also had some active heavy showers. this is from one of our weather watchers in devon and this type of cloud is associated with thunderstorm clouds and we have had a lot of heavy downpours and thunderstorms and that fema will stick around for the next few days. we have further strong winds in the forecast and there will be a mix of sunshine and heavy showers. most of those showers to come this evening and overnight rattling through on the brisk westerly wind. becoming largely dry overnight. pretty chilly with temperatures around 2 degrees. towards the west we keep the heavy showers and thunderstorms and scotland has those showers falling as sleet and snow over the highest ground so icy conditions first thing friday. it will be another day of sunshine and heavy showers. a bit like today but not as windy. the showers will tend to ease away in the east so dry sunny weather likely here and plenty more showers all day in the west and temperatures six to 11 degrees and you will notice the strength of the winds. 30—40 mph, perhaps stronger around exposed coasts and hills in the west. another windy day to come on saturday. higher pressure trying to move in by the time we get to sunday but saturday another day of blustery north—westerly winds bringing that mix of sunshine, showers, some sleet and snow over the highest ground. the driest weather towards the south and south—east but quite cool for the time of year with temperatures seven to 10 degrees. that's all from the bbc news at six — so it's goodbye from me — and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s hello i'm olly foster, here's what's coming up sportsday... one year on, the family of a liverpool fan who died from covid, ask why thousands of spanish supporters were allowed to travel to anfield. it's an italian job well done. manchester city thrash fiorentina to reach the quarter finals of the women's champions league. and the cross code rugby great, sonny bill williams has retired to make a return to the ring. hello and welcome to sportsday. for the past 12 months, we've reported on the impact of covid—19 on sport. it was exactly a year ago the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic and on that same day, liverpool faced atletico madrid at anfield in the champions league, the last match to be played in front of a full house.