BBC has apologised to the royal family over its ‘deceitful’ interview with Late Princess Diana.
Gatekeepers News reports that Prince William and Harry had slammed BBC for the deceitful method used by its journalist, Martin Bashir, to secure an exclusive interview with their mother, Diana in 1995, which led to her feelings of isolation and worsened their parents’ relationship.
Diana who died in 1997, had during a sensational BBC “Panorama” interview which was watched by over 20 million people, shared details of her marriage to Prince Charles, the heir to the throne. She spoke about her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles, their affairs, and her bulimia.
She claimed, “there were three of us in this marriage” which spurred Queen Elizabeth to quickly order that Diana and Charles divorced. They had separated in 1992 and officially divorced in 1996.
BBC began its probe last year following allegations from Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer that he had been tricked into introducing her to Bashir.
The findings of the inquiry, led by former senior judge John Dyson, found that Bashir had formed fake bank statements by a graphic designer who worked for the BBC.
According to the finding of the inquiry: “Bashir seriously breached BBC rules by mocking up fake bank statements to gain access to the princess.
“He showed the fake documents to Earl Spencer, to gain his trust so he would introduce Bashir to Diana.
“By gaining access to Diana in this way, Bashir was able to persuade her to agree to give the interview.
“And as media interest in the interview increased, the BBC covered up what it had learnt about how Bashir secured the interview. Lord Dyson said this fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark”.
“A 1995 letter from Princess Diana – published as evidence – said she had ‘no regrets’ concerning the matter.”
Martin Bashir
Earl Spencer told BBC Panorama: “Well, the irony is that I met Martin Bashir on the 31st of August 1995 – because exactly two years later she died, and I do draw a line between the two events.”
He said it was “quite clear” from when he introduced Bashir to Diana in September 1995 that “everyone was going to be made untrustworthy, and I think that Diana did lose trust in really key people”.
Diana’s former private secretary, Patrick Jephson said the interview “destroyed remaining links with Buckingham Palace”.
He said after the interview, Diana lost “the royal support structure that had guided and safeguarded her for so many years” which “inevitably made her vulnerable to people who didn’t have her best interests at heart, or were unable properly to look after her”.
Gatekeepers News reports that Prince William, in his reaction to the findings of the inquiry, said: “It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said. 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. 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.”
“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,” Prince Harry also reacted.
BBC said it has written apologies to Daina’s sons, Princes William and Harry as well as Prince Charles and Diana’s brother Earl Spencer.
It added that it will return all awards the interview received, including a TV Bafta, won in 1996.
On his part, Bashir apologised for mocking up the documents but said he remained “immensely proud” of the interview.
He said: “The bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview.
“Evidence handed to the inquiry in her own handwriting unequivocally confirms this, and other compelling evidence presented to Lord Dyson reinforces it.”
Diana had in the letter seen by Gatekeepers News which dated December 22, 1995, wrote: “Martin Bashir did not show me any documents, nor give me any information that I was not previously aware of.”
Bashir, 58, left BBC last week citing ongoing health issues.
Deputy director of BBC News, Jonathan Munro, had announced that: “Martin Bashir has stepped down from his position as the BBC’s Religion Editor, and is leaving the corporation.
“He let us know of his decision last month, just before being readmitted to the hospital for another surgical procedure on his heart. Although he underwent major surgery toward the end of last year, he is facing some ongoing issues and has decided to focus on his health.”
