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The Duke of Cambridge has tonight blasted the BBC for its failings around the airing his mother’s 1995 Panorama interview, which he says exacerbated her “fear, paranoia and isolation”.
Prince William said he was left with “indescribable sadness” to know the corporation’s shortcomings had “contributed significantly” to Diana, Princess of Wales’ state of mind in the final years of her life.
“She was failed not just by a rogue reporter, but by leaders at the BBC who looked the other way rather than asking the tough questions,” the duke said in a recorded statement.
The future king said the interview contributed to “making my parents’ relationship worse” and said that if the BBC had properly investigated “complaints and claims” made in 1995, then “my mother would have known that she had been deceived.”
William also called for the documentary to never been aired again and said it had “established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others”.
His brother Prince Harry also responded to Lord Dyson’s report, that was released today, and praised his “resilient” mother but was scathing about the “culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”
An inquiry found the BBC covered up “deceitful behaviour” used by journalist Martin Bashir to secure his headline-making world exclusive interview with Diana, and “fell short of high standards of integrity and transparency”.
Mr Bashir was in “serious breach” of the BBC’s producer guidelines when he faked bank statements and showed them to Earl Spencer to gain access to the princess in 1995, a report by Lord Dyson said.
Prince William pictured with his mother at Wimbledon
(REUTERS)
The BBC has written to the royal family to apologise for the circumstances surrounding the interview – in which Diana said: “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded”, a reference to Camilla Parker Bowles – who Charles later married.
Personal expressions of regret have been sent to the Queen, Prince of Wales, the dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, and Diana’s brother Earl Spencer.
The earl has said he “draws a line” between the Panorama interview with his sister Diana, Princess of Wales and her death two years later.
William said in his statement: “The interview was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse and has since hurt countless others.
“It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her.
“But what saddens me most, is that if the BBC had properly investigated the complaints and concerns first raised in 1995, my mother would have known that she had been deceived.”
He ended with the words: “In an era of fake news, public service broadcasting and a free press have never been more important. These failings, identified by investigative journalists, not only let my mother down, and my family down; they let the public down too.”
Harry praised Diana in his statement statement: “Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave, and unquestionably honest.
“The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.
“To those who have taken some form of accountability, thank you for owning it. That is the first step towards justice and truth. Yet what deeply concerns me is that practices like these – and even worse – are still widespread today.
“Then, and now, it’s bigger than one outlet, one network, or one publication.
“Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed. By protecting her legacy, we protect everyone, and uphold the dignity with which she lived her life. Let’s remember who she was and what she stood for.”
Additional reporting by PA
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