Prince William Breaks Silence on Investigation Into Circumstances That Led to Princess Diana’s Infamous Panorama Interview
Diana, Princess of Wale’s Panorama interview has become one of the most infamous of the royal family. During the interview, Diana confirmed the discord between her and the royal family, what went wrong in her marriage, and her bout with bulimia. Recently, it has come out that the BBC may have coerced Diana into giving that interview. Now, there is an open investigation on the details surrounding the interview and Prince William is in full support of it.
What are the claims against the BBC?
Last month, The Sunday Times released a report that stated that Diana had been coerced into the interview. The outlet alleged that host Martin Bashir had created fake bank statements to show Diana’s brother Charles Spencer. The statements alleged that a member of Spencer’s staff was being paid for information about him and his sister. The statements were intended to get Spencer to help convince Diana to do the interview.
In 1996, an investigation had been done surrounding this issue but found that the statements didn’t have anything to do with the interview, according to People.
“[The BBC] have yet to apologize for what truly matters here: the incredibly serious falsification of bank statements suggesting that Diana’s closest confidants were spying on her for her enemies,” Spencer told People on Nov. 3.
“This was what led me to talk to Diana about such things. This in turn led to the meeting where I introduced Diana to Bashir, on 19 September 1995. This then led to the interview,” he continued. “The BBC have so far refused to acknowledge the above. They claim Diana wasn’t misled. They have ignored my inquiry as to whether the apology over their false bank statements extends to the ones that actually persuaded Diana to meet Bashir.”
Prince Williams’s feelings about the new investigation
Yesterday, it was announced that a new, independent investigation would be done.
“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,” BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement.
Prince William told the outlet that this was a “step in the right direction.”
Revelations from the Panorama interview
Diana made many startling statements during the interview and was candid in a way people weren’t used to from royals.
During the interview, Diana revealed to Bashir that she had tried to hurt herself.
“When no one listens to you, or you feel no one’s listening to you, all sorts of things start to happen,” she said. “For instance you have so much pain inside yourself that you try and hurt yourself on the outside because you want help, but it’s the wrong help you’re asking for. People see it as crying wolf or attention-seeking, and they think because you’re in the media all the time you’ve got enough attention, inverted commas.
“But I was actually crying out because I wanted to get better in order to go forward and continue my duty and my role as wife, mother, Princess of Wales. So yes, I did inflict upon myself. I didn’t like myself, I was ashamed because I couldn’t cope with the pressures.”
She also opened up about being bulimic during her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales, and how his affair drove her deeper into bullemia. This was also the interview where she gave the famous quote that was heard around the world, saying “there were three of us in that marriage so it was a bit crowded.”
