The BBC is moving ahead with the appointment of former senior judge, John Dyson, to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the TV interview with Princess Diana in late 1995.
Following the broadcaster’s announcement on Wednesday, following recent claims by Diana’s brother Charles Spencer that BBC journalist Martin Bashir allegedly used false claims to convince Diana to agree to the interview, which Reuters reported had more than 200 million views. In Britain.
“There were three of us in this marriage,” Diana said in an interview 25 years ago, referring to Prince Charles’ relationship with his Camilla Parker-Bowles, who married after Diana’s death. Diana, who divorced Charles in 1996, died in a Paris car accident in 1997 as she was being chased by a paparazzi. Diana and Charles, 72, had two sons: Prince William, who inherited the throne after his father, and Prince Harry.
File – Princess Diana is seen on November 7, 1985. The BBC is moving ahead with the appointment of former senior judge John Dyson, for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the TV interview with Shahi in late 1995. (AP Photo / Jim Birdier, file)
The investigation will take a look to see if the steps now being taken by the BBC and Bashir, 57 57, were appropriate and to what extent such actions affected Diana’s decision to be interviewed at the time.
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The BBC described Dyson, a former Supreme Court judge, as “a famous and highly respected figure who would lead the whole process.”
Charles Spencer, who is investigating and apologizing, alleges that during a 1995 visit, Bashir made false and defamatory allegations about senior Royals in order to gain Spencer’s trust in addition to Diana’s toxins.
Allegations include: Diana’s phone was being bugged, her bodyguard was plotting against her, and two senior royal aides were paid to keep Diana under surveillance. Spencer alleged that Bashir showed him “false bank statements” to support his allegations.
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When the complaints first surfaced, the BBC conducted an internal investigation and accused Bashir of confessing to initiating mock-up documents, although the broadcaster said Dixon had no part in Diana’s decision to be interviewed.
The BBC’s director general, Tim Davy, said the broadcaster was “committed to finding out what happened.”
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According to Reuters, Bashir did not comment publicly to the press and the BBC said he was on sick leave from his post as religion editor.
The Associated Press contributes to this report
