BBC: ‘WE LET DIANA DOWN’

BBC issues apology over shameful Panorama smears as Princess’ brother calls for criminal investigation

- Richard Palmer

THE BBC apologised yesterday for letting down Diana and the Royal Family over false claims that Prince Charles had an affair with his sons’ nanny.

It agreed to pay Tiggy Legge-Bourke substantial damages after saying sorry to her, Charles, William and Harry.

Demanding police action, Earl Spencer called for those responsible to face justice. 

The Princess’s brother, 58, said: “While I’m delighted to see that another innocent victim of this appalling scandal is being vindicated, it’s amazing to me that no criminal charges have been levelled against those responsible, yet.”

The fabricated allegations arose as journalist Martin Bashir tried to persuade Diana to be interviewed for Panorama in 1995.

Bashir, 59, is also alleged to have tricked Diana into believing Ms Legge-Bourke, now known as Alexandra Pettifer, had become pregnant by Prince Charles, by showing the Princess a fake receipt for an abortion. After the BBC apologised at the High Court, director-general Tim Davie said it would never again show the programme or licence another broadcaster to do so.

He expressed his regret that the BBC did not fully investigate warning signs in the immediate aftermath of the infamous broadcast that the interview might have been obtained improperly.

Mr Davie said: “Had we done our job properly, Princess Diana would have known the truth during her lifetime. We let her, the Royal Family and our audiences down.”