In 1995, Diana gave the BBC an interview that the courts are still dealing with today. Because the spectacular statements of the princess were tricked with forged documents. The former nanny of her two sons now receives compensation.
27 years after a legendary interview with Princess Diana, the BBC is paying compensation to the former nanny of Prince William and Prince Harry. "I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to her, including Prince William and Prince Harry, for the way Princess Diana was deceived and the consequences for everyone involved," said BBC boss Tim Davie. Both sides have agreed on a settlement with the payment.
The former nanny, Alexandra Pettifer - better known by her former name Tiggy Legge-Bourke - was alleged at the time to have had an affair with the heir apparent while she was Prince Charles' personal assistant. Pettifer regretted that legal action was needed before the BBC acknowledged "the serious damage" it had suffered as a result. Her lawyer said the rumors were allegedly planted as part of former BBC reporter Martin Bashir's dishonest efforts to get the Diana interview.
An investigative report released last year revealed that Bashir had used forged documents to gain access to Princess Diana. The BBC later covered up their reporter's misconduct. If the station had worked carefully at the time, Diana, who died in 1997, could have learned the truth while she was still alive, Davie said. "We failed them, the Royal Family and our audience."
In March, the BBC had already paid damages to Diana's former private secretary. He too was harmed by the way the interview came about, it said. An agreement was reached with Jephson, who works as a journalist and author. "The BBC apologizes unreservedly," the statement said. They have taken over the legal costs and also paid a "substantial sum" in damages. Jephson said he would donate the money to a children's hospice in Wales.
In 1995, the prime-time exclusive talk drew around 23 million people in Great Britain in front of their television sets. The princess, who was separated from Prince Charles at the time but not yet divorced, described how she felt abandoned and sabotaged by the royal family and revealed her husband's affair with his now-wife Camilla Parker-Bowles. "There were three of us in this marriage," Diana said to the camera.
