The Society of Editors has announced the postponement of this year’s Regional Press Awards.

The organisation says the RPAs, along with the National Press Awards, have been postponed “until later this year”.

The move comes following the departure of the SoE’s executive director Ian Murray, after criticism over the organisation’s response to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent television interview.

A strongly-worded statement was initially issued by the SoE denying claims by Harry and Meghan made during the interview that the UK press was “bigoted”.

However, the response was criticised by both regional and national journalists and led to both the Yorkshire Post and the Bristol Cable announcing they were pulling out of this year’s RPAs.

A virtual ceremony had been planed for late May.

But in a statement, the SoE said: “The Society of Editors has decided to postpone the National and Regional Press Awards until later this year.

“New dates will be announced in due course.

“In the meantime the Society will continue its work in championing freedom of expression and supporting diversity in newsrooms, and will also plan for this year’s annual conference.”