In the emails, interviewer Martin Bashir says that his origins played a role in the fuss.
A striking development in the scandal surrounding the controversial interview with Princess Diana in 1995: the BBC has released more than 3,000 emails that were exchanged about this in 2020. And as is the case with such emails, the necessary spicy statements are of course made.
Controversial interview
In 1995, Lady Di gave a controversial interview with the BBC for the Panorama programme. She had just divorced Prince Charles and told journalist Martin Bashir in detail about the failed marriage and the lack of support from the Royal Family. It attracted a record 22.8 million British viewers, and a number of controversial and still iconic quotes, including “There were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit busy”, referring to Charles’ affair with Camilla.
Compensation
An independent investigation into the interview was conducted in 2021. It showed that the BBC concealed the fact that the interview came about by providing false information. Martin Bashir is said to have won the princess’s trust in this way. Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana’s former private secretary, was therefore awarded compensation in 2022.
Emails
The story is gaining momentum, because the BBC has now, almost thirty years after the interview, released more than 3,000 emails that were exchanged about the interview in 2020. In it, Martin Bashir says, among other things, that he thinks his origins played a role in the fuss. He thinks the interview would have generated less controversy if a white man had interviewed Diana. “At that moment it was also clear that there was some irritation that a second-generation immigrant with non-white, working-class roots had the audacity to enter a royal palace and conduct an interview,” the journalist said.
Source: RTL Boulevard, Glamial archive | Image: NL Image
