Many will remember the ground-breaking interview Princess Diana gave with Panorama about the details of her husband's affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles and her cruel treatment from the monarchy. Now in this new documentary Diana: The Truth Behind the Interview, we learn why she gave this interview with such a small production and with such an unknown journalist (Martin Bashir) and the secrets that were kept for her.
New Princess Diana Documentary
In Channel 4's new documentary Diana: The Truth Behind the Interview, we get an inside look at why Diana agreed to finally come forward. Countless will remember Diana speaking to Martin Bashir saying, "There were three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded."
The Daily Telegraphs Max Hastings alleges that he met with the "People's Princess" a few months before this groundbreaking interview with Panorama. Apparently, she was "terribly anxious for my side of this to come out." Sir Hastings said, "I spent the best part of a couple of hours with Diana and she put on a wonderful show. It was absolutely gripping stuff."
According to Max, "It became clear first of all how much she hates Charles... yes, she did hate Charles. When I said 'were there ever happy times?', she said 'no, the marriage was hell from day one.' I was amazed by the frankness and the directness with which she said that." Sir Hastings claimed, "She said that all she cared about was William's succession to the throne and she said to me, quite explicitly, 'I don't think Charles can do it.' The outcome she wanted to see was for Charles to stand aside as heir... and for William to occupy the throne. This was pretty dynamic stuff."
Sir Max Hastings was concerned for Diana's well-being and claimed, "Diana said a lot of stuff on several occasions which I thought [was] for the fairies. She asked me what I knew about a conspiracy to sort of have her put down. I said... it sounded absolutely crazy to me. But she, I think, did believe this sort of stuff and it was one of many, many things that made one feel so desperately sorry for her... this sense of vulnerability."
Ultimately, Max chose not to publish the details of their conversation, "I felt that my job was to try and help them keep a lid on the worst of this, rather than to lift it off."
Diana: The Truth Behind the Interview Allegations
Serious allegations against the Panorama interviewer Martin Bashir are raised in this new doc, such as claims he forged bank documents and preyed on her vulnerability to entice Diana into participating in the interview heard around the world. Apparently, a BBC graphic artist admitted that he forged documents for Bashir to show Diana's brother Earl Spencer that payments proved a betrayal against him and her family.
According to The Telegraph, BBC has responded by stating the following:
"The BBC's internal records from the time indicate that Martin had met the Princess of Wales before the mocked-up documentation existed. These accounts also say that the Princess of Wales confirmed in writing that these documents played no part in her decision to give the interview. The BBC itself no longer possesses a physical copy of this note. But its existence is documented in the BBC’s records, and it was seen, at the time, by BBC management."
She knew of Charles' infidelity...
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It was added by the BBC spokesperson, "The suggestion of criminal activity is a serious allegation, but, in these circumstances, a risible one. A handwritten note from Princess Diana attested to the fact the princess had not seen the 'mocked-up' bank statements and that they played no part in her decision to give the interview."
Diana: The Truth Behind the Interview will be airing in full on October 21st on Channel 4 at 9 pm.
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