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The BBC is investigating the historic and controversial 1995 interview with Princess Diana, after suspicions have emerged that the journalist who conducted it, Martin Bashir, he could have used false documents to persuade the princess to grant the interview.
It was during that interview, released on November 20, 1995, that Diana uttered the famous phrase: “Well, there were three of us at the wedding, it was a crowd“. The princess referred to the love story of her husband, Prince Carlos, with Camilla Parker Bowles, the current wife of the heir to the English throne.
Diana and Carlos would finally formalize their divorce the following year.
The interview had 23 million viewers and is, still today, the most watched non-fiction show in the history of British television.
In the month in which 25 years have passed since the historic interview, the controversy has rekindled with a letter sent by Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer to the BBC with a series of accusations concerning the alleged dishonesty of journalist Martin Bashir.
The contents of the letter were made public by the tabloid Daily Mail.
According to Charles Spencer, the reporter used a series of false documents, including proof of bank transfers, which showed alleged payments made to members of the Royal House for security services and proved that Princess Diana was under permanent surveillance.
The suspicions that have emerged are not new and already in 1996 similar accusations had emerged on the alleged false documents used by Martin Bashir. However, this new assault by Charles Spencer has once again placed the interview at the center of the controversy.
Following Charles Spencer’s letter, the current BBC leadership pledged to launch an independent investigation into the facts surrounding the interview. BBC director general Tim Davie said the station “takes it very seriously” and stressed that it intends to “get to the truth“.
The BBC has appointed Lord John Dyson, a judge and former member of the British Supreme Court, to lead the independent investigation.
It’s been 20 years. After all, what is left to know about Diana, the people’s princess?
According to a BBC spokesperson quoted by The Guardian, the broadcaster found key evidence for the investigation: a note written by Diana in which the princess made it clear that she had not seen the fake documents, which would therefore not contribute to her. decision to accept the interview. However, the BBC did not disclose the note or quote its contents.
This week, Prince William – Diana’s son and second in line to the British throne – praised the BBC’s decision to open an investigation.
“The independent investigation is a step in the right direction,” William said in a statement. “It should help to understand the truth behind the actions leading up to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions made by those at the BBC at the time.“
Journalist Martin Bashir recently underwent heart surgery and is recovering from health complications after contracting Covid-19, so he has not yet publicly commented on the matter and is not available to make any statements to the investigation. Currently, Bashir is a religious editor of the BBC.
The full transcript of the 1995 interview can be read here.
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