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The Duke of Sussex has defied his brother, the Prince of Wales’s wish that his mother’s controversial Panorama interview never air again.
In her new Netflix documentary series and that of the Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, segments of the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir were shown.
Footage of Diana talking about public and press scrutiny of her life was first aired in the 1995 interview, which Prince William said worsened feelings of “fear, paranoia and isolation”. of his mother
Last year, a report by Lord Dyson found that the BBC covered up Bashir’s deception in obtaining the interview and “failed to achieve high standards of integrity and transparency”.
The journalist was in serious breach of BBC producer guidelines after he was found to have falsified bank statements and shown them to Diana’s brother Earl Spencer to gain access.
After the report, William strongly rebuked the BBC, saying: “My view is that the misleading way in which the interview was obtained had a substantial influence on what my mother said. The interview was a contribution important in worsening my parents’ relationship and has since hurt many others.
“It brings an indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to the fear, paranoia and isolation I remember from the last few years with her.”
He added: “It is my strong opinion that this Panorama program has no legitimacy and should never be broadcast again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been peddled by the BBC and others.”
At the time, Prince Harry said of the report that he was deeply concerned that journalistic practices like Bashir’s were “widespread today” and “bigger than a media outlet, a network or a publication.”
“The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices eventually took his life,” he added.
In the first episode of Harry and Meghan, the Duke is seen talking about Diana’s struggles with how intrusive the press was.
He said: “I think she had a lived experience of how she was struggling to live that life. She felt compelled to talk about it.
The princess during her 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir (BBC/PA)
(Average PA)
“Especially in that Panorama interview. I think we all know now that he was tricked into giving the interview. But at the same time he spoke the truth of his experience.”
Here’s a clip of Diana, in which she said: “To this day I still find the interest daunting and phenomenal. Because I don’t really like being the center of attention.
“When I have my public obligations, I understand when I get out of the car that I am being photographed. But actually, it’s now when I walk out my door, my front door, I’m photographing myself. I never know where a lens will be.”
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and members of the royal family were reportedly not approached for comment on the content of Harry and Meghan’s series.
According to the PA news agency, a senior palace source countered the written statement at the beginning of the first episode saying: “Members of the royal family declined to comment on the content of this series.”
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