Prince Charles is reportedly furious that “lurid lies” from Panorama’s interview with Princess Diana took almost three decades to finally be publicly corrected.
The BBC has written to the Prince of Wales to apologise for Martin Bashir’s “deceitful” tactics in securing the interview and agreed to never show it again, according to reports.
Lord Dyson concluded that Bashir used a series of underhand tactics to secure an interview with the Princess of Wales.
Bashir still denies using deception, and has apologised to Princes William and Harry, insisting he "loved" their late mother.
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A friend of the Prince of Wales told the Sun: “The narrative that came from that interview about Charles needs to be changed.
“He is privately furious that it has taken 27 years. The interview and allegations caused long-term damage to the future king and his household.”
Princess Diana - the prince's ex-wife - infamously told Bashir "there were three of us in the marriage" during the sit-down.
The former Panorama presenter claims his bombshell interview with Princess Diana did not harm her and she was never unhappy about it.
He also hit back at William's claims that the interview fuelled his mother's isolation and paranoia.
Bashir told the Sunday Times he was "deeply sorry" to William and Harry, adding: “I never wanted to harm Diana in any way and I don’t believe we did.
“Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents ... My family and I loved her.”
But now the BBC’s current Director-General Tim Davie has sent a letter to Prince Charles saying that the Corporation apologised for Bashir’s “lurid and untrue claims” about the prince, members of his staff and other members of the Royal Family.
The letter said the BBC accepts that Bashir made claims “intending to play on the princess’s fears, in order to arouse her interest in him, and without concern for the impact on those he maligned”.
Charles is not going to react publicly, a friend said. Both his sons - Prince William and Prince Harry - have already spoken publicly about the inquiry's results.
The Duke of Cambridge said he was in no doubt that the reporter’s web of deceit “substantially influenced” what his mother said and “was a major contribution to making my parents’ relationship worse”.
Prince Harry also released saying: “Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave, and unquestionably honest. The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”
Bashir’s interview with Princess Diana in 1995 came weeks before it was revealed she and Charles were to divorce.
Lord Dyson’s report concluded that the BBC knowingly “covered up” what it subsequently learned about his behaviour.
The BBC has vowed never to show the full programme again but it is understood Prince Charles, 72, is irritated that clips are being shown on BBC news reports.
