BBC’s Bashir cheated Princess Diana for an interview

An independent ask Finding that the BBC “did not meet its high standards of integrity and transparency”, reporter Martin Bashir acted in a “deceptive” manner to ensure his Explosive 1995 interview With Princess Diana.

This famous panoramic Interview This is the first time that members of the royal family have spoken frankly about their lives with a strong negative attitude-Diana has not concealed anything.

She said that the royal life made her gluttony and self-harm. No one in the royal family helped her. Instead, she dismissed her behavior and called her “unstable”. She admitted to having an affair with her riding coach James Hewitt. She talked about the long-term relationship between her separated husband, Prince Charles, and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Her famous saying was: “We are three in this marriage, so it’s a bit crowded.”

She also expressed doubts about Charles’s ability to be king, doubting whether she would become the queen of this country, but said that she “wants to be the queen of the people.”

Over 20 million people watched this interview, and the result was earthquake-like.it Guaranteed Diana’s position in the eyes of the world is a victim of the grievances of the ruthless monarchy and torpedo The public opinion of the royal family, especially that of Charles. And, shortly after the broadcast, the queen ordered Charles and Diana, who had been separated for more than two years, to formally file for divorce.

But when November 2, 2020In the first few weeks of the 25th week of the interview, the Daily Mail published a letter from Diana’s brother Charles Spencer and the 9th Earl Spencer, accusing the BBC of “completely Dishonest” and unethical manipulation behind the scenes to ensure interviews.

After his public statement, the BBC launched an independent investigation into the interview.

According to the findings released on Thursday, Bashir “deceived” Earls Spencer with false information to obtain an introduction from his royal sister, which he then used to get her to agree to an interview.Then when this information was first exposed, the BBC “covered up how [Bashir] Ensure the appropriateness of the interview and the methods he uses. “

In order to gain the trust of Earl Spencer, Bashir “commissioned” an unsuspecting BBC graphic artist to produce bank documents, which seemed to show that one of his former employees had been paid by the newspaper group. The report also pointed out that Bashir produced additional bank statements, which seemed to indicate that Diana’s two current senior assistants were paid by the same newspaper group (implying that the payments were for the sale of private information to tabloids). After the meeting where Bashir showed the documents to the Earl of Earlsspence, he introduced the reporter to his royal sister.

“By contacting Princess Diana in this way, Mr. Bashir was able to persuade her to agree to an interview,” wrote Lord Dyson, the former judge in charge of the investigation.

Soon after the interview was first aired, the graphic designer who made the forged documents contacted the senior management of the BBC, and he was worried about how the documents might be used. Guardian story Published on April 8, 1996-in Mailed on sunday It broke the news of the existence of forged documents and accused the BBC of “secret, cunning and misleading activities” to ensure interviews.

At that time, the BBC conducted an internal investigation and eventually cleared Bashir and panoramic, Found that these files “never” were used to get the princess to agree to be interviewed.

But in his report, Lord Dyson description The BBC’s internal investigation was “very ineffective”. He said that Bashir had repeatedly lied to his superiors about the circumstances in which he was interviewed. In addition, the BBC did not interview Earl Spencer, but “accepted that the statements given to them by Mr. Bashir were true “.

Lord Dyson said: “I am satisfied that the BBC has covered up in its news records the fact that it was able to determine how Bashir was interviewed.”

The interview itself was conducted in secret. The Palace Press Relations team did not know its existence until it was recorded, and only a few people on the BBC knew its existence until panoramic The broadcast date of the episode has been set. (This Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation According to reports, Marmaduke Hussey at the time was “very dissatisfied” with the network executives not telling him about the plan in advance. )

The timing of the interview is also important.In her biography Queen Elizabeth: The life of a modern monarch, Historian Sally Biddle Smith wrote that Diana “very intentionally” waited until Prince Charles’ birthday on November 14 to inform the palace that she would appear at panoramic -The interview itself was broadcast on November 20, the 48th wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip.

Despite the “deceptive” behind-the-scenes manipulation, Lord Dyson concluded that when Diana was first introduced to Bashir, he was “enthusiastic about the idea of ​​being interviewed on TV” and “may agree to accept anyone’s advice.” Interview”. An experienced and reputable reporter, even without Mr. Bashir’s intervention, she is confident. “

Lord Dyson said: “No matter what reservations she had about this later, Princess Diana was very satisfied with the interview at the time.”

in a statementBashir, who retired from the position of BBC Religious Editor last week, Apologized for the forged documents, but insisted that they “have nothing to do with Princess Diana’s personal choice to participate in the interview.” He also provided Diana’s handwritten note to the investigation, saying that he did not show her “any documents, nor did he give it to her.[n] Any information I didn’t know before. “

The current BBC chairman Richard Sharp stated that the company “accepted” the report’s findings “unreservedly”, and current director-general Tim Davie also expressed this view.

“Although the report says Diana, Princess of Wales, is keen on the idea of ​​accepting BBC interviews, it is clear that the process of obtaining interviews is far from the level that audiences have the right to expect,” David said. “Although the BBC today has significantly better processes and procedures, the procedures and procedures that existed at the time should prevent the protection of interviews in this way.”

“Although the BBC cannot turn back the clock in 25 years, we can make a full and unconditional apology. The BBC provided this today.”

The BBC reported that the company has sent personal apologies to Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Earls Spencer and Prince Charles.

On Thursday, Earl Spencer stated that if she disagreed with Bashir’s interview, he believed his sister might still be alive, and said that his reporting strategy convinced Diana that she could not trust the people around her.

He said that Bashir was “very good at amplifying people’s anxiety”, giving the impression that he would “save you in a difficult and dangerous world.”

“She didn’t know who to trust. In the end, when she died two years later, she didn’t have any form of real protection.”

Both Harry and William issued statements criticizing the media in response to the findings of the investigation Thursday.