Prince William Breaks Silence On Investigation Into Princess Diana Interview
The BBC has revealed that they will launch an investigation on their controversial Panorama interview with Princess Diana. Prince William, her oldest son, has welcomed the move, responding with “it should help establish the truth behind the actions” that led to the programme. He also said that the probe is a “step in the right direction.”
Lord Dyson will be leading the investigation, appointed by the BBC themselves, and he will try to discover the steps that the broadcaster and interviewer Martin Bashir took in order to land the interview with the late Princess.
In his official response to this, Prince William had this to say: “The independent investigation is a step in the right direction. It should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions taken by those in the BBC at the time.”
This investigation comes after Diana’s younger brother, Earl Spencer, claimed that he had been shown “false bank statements” by Mr. Bashir and that those statements were used as a way of the reporter gaining access to the Princess.
The investigation will consider if the actions taken by the BBC and Mr. Bashir were appropriate and see just to what extent did those actions affect Diana’s decision to give an interview.
It will also try to figure out how much the BBC knew from 1995 and 1996 about “mocked up bank statements purporting to show payments to a former employee of Earl Spencer (and) the purported payments to members of the Royal Households”, the corporation said.
The interview caused never before seen distress in the monarchy and the world, as in it Princess Diana talked about some sensitive subjects, such as her marriage and Prince Charles’ rumored relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now his wife.
A month after the interview the Queen urged the separated to divorce, which they eventually did in 1996. A year later, in 1997, Princess Diana tragically passed away in a car crash in Paris.
Tim Davie, director-general of the BBC, has said: “The BBC is determined to get to the truth about these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation.
“Formerly Master of the Rolls and a Justice of the Supreme Court, Lord Dyson is an eminent and highly respected figure who will lead a thorough process.”
Lord Dyson said: “This is an important investigation which I will start straight away. I will ensure it is both thorough and fair.” Mr. Bashir, who is currently working as a religion editor at the BBC, is signed off from work at the moment. A statement from the BBC confirmed: “He is currently recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery and has significant complications from having contracted Covid-19 earlier in the year”.