愛污传媒

Skip to main content

BBC apologizes to Princess Diana aide over interview deceit

Britain's Princess Diana and her Private Secretary, Patrick Jephson, at Heathrow Airport in London, Dec. 11, 1995. (Tim Ockenden/PA via AP, file) Britain's Princess Diana and her Private Secretary, Patrick Jephson, at Heathrow Airport in London, Dec. 11, 1995. (Tim Ockenden/PA via AP, file)
Share
LONDON -

The BBC said Thursday that it has apologized and paid a 鈥渟ubstantial鈥 sum to Princess Diana's private secretary over subterfuge used to get an explosive television interview with the late royal.

The U.K.'s national broadcaster said it acknowledged that 鈥渟erious harm鈥 was caused to Patrick Jephson by the circumstances in which the 1995 interview, conducted by BBC journalist Martin Bashir, was obtained.

鈥淭he BBC apologises unreservedly to Commander Jephson for the harm caused to him and has paid his legal costs,鈥 it said in a statement. 鈥淭he BBC has also paid Commander Jephson a substantial sum in damages, which he intends to donate in full to British charities nominated by him.鈥

The 1995 interview, in which Diana discussed the breakdown of her relationship with Prince Charles - famously saying 鈥淭here were three of us in this marriage鈥 in reference to Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles - was watched by 23 million people in Britain and sent shockwaves through the monarchy.

A report last year by a retired senior judge found Bashir used 鈥渄eceitful behavior鈥 to get the interview, including showing Diana's brother fake bank statements that falsely suggested members of Diana's inner circle were being paid to spy on her. Judge John Dyson said the BBC obscured Bashir's misconduct for 25 years.

Jephson said that 鈥渁fter more than 25 years, it is a relief finally to reach a conclusion to this painful episode.鈥

He said he would donate his settlement to a children's hospice in Diana's memory.

Diana divorced Charles in 1996 and died in a Paris car crash in 1997 as she was pursued by paparazzi. Charles, the heir to the throne, married Camilla, now the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2005.

Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, tweeted that it was 鈥渁ppalling what Patrick Jephson had to go through as a result of grotesque "journalism" and said the issue had been 鈥渃overed up for so long by senior people鈥 at the BBC.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING

A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

Local Spotlight

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.