The interview rocked the world with infamous quotes such as the claim there were “three of us in this marriage”, in reference to Prince Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana also spoke candidly about her struggles with depression, bulimia and isolation within the Royal Family. In the wake of the 25th anniversary of Diana’s iconic interview with BBC Panorama, questions have once again been raised as to how they managed to get the scoop.
Indeed, Diana turned down opportunities with Sir David Frost, with whom she was friendly, and Clive James, who she also knew personally.
The princess also had lunch with two US TV interview giants at Kensington Palace, Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters, who did not manage to persuade her to be interviewed by them either.
Meanwhile, Mr Bashir, 32 at the time, was a far more obscure journalist vying for Diana’s attention when the biggest media players in the world were trying to have her on their shows.
Mr Bashir eventually came out on top and there are many people asking why that is.
READ MORE: Princess Diana was ‘traumatised’ by humiliating Prince Charles comment
Princess Diana declined an interview with her friend Sir David Frost (Image: GETTY)
Oprah Winfrey reportedly had lunch with Diana at Kensington Palace (Image: GETTY)
The Princess of Wales’ brother Charles Spencer, who initially introduced Mr Bashir to Diana, claimed both he and his sister were tricked by the journalist, who he alleges presented them with fraudulent bank statements claiming staff members were receiving payments from news organisations.
For example, some of the documents reportedly claimed Earl Spencer’s former head of security had received payments from the Today newspaper and a company based in Jersey.
There are also claims Mr Bashir presented forged statements showing two senior courtiers receiving money from the security services.
Mr Bashir has been accused of feeding Diana’s existing insecurities and paranoia in order to get the scoop of his life.
Princess Diana’s 1995 interview with BBC Panorama’s Martin Bashir (Image: GETTY)
The BBC initially looked into this accusation during an internal probe in 1996 and Mr Bashir was cleared of wrongdoing, while the graphic designer who reportedly created the mock-ups was sacked from the BBC.
Charles Spencer branded this investigation a “whitewash” and has called for an independent investigation, to which the new director-general of the BBC, Tim Davie, has obliged.
Mr Davie launched a “robust and independent” investigation this month and vowed to “get to the truth”.
He said: “The BBC is determined to get to the truth about these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation.”
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Martin Bashir is now the BBC religious affairs correspondent (Image: GETTY)
Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer (Image: GETTY)
Lord Dyson, one of the country’s most senior retired judges, has been appointed to lead the inquiry.
Mr Bashir himself has been unable to respond to accusations against him because, according to the BBC, he is recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery.
He is also reportedly “seriously ill” after complications from coronavirus earlier this year, although he has been photographed out and about.
Prince William has backed the investigation, saying: “The independent investigation is a step in the right direction.
“It should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and subsequent decisions taken by those in the BBC at that time.”
Diana’s former private secretary Patrick Jephson has claimed she was “exploited” and that Mr Bashir and his team ensnared her with “seduction and betrayal”.
Mr Jephson, who worked for the princess between 1988 and 1996, claimed: “When Panorama came out, part of my visceral reaction was outrage that somebody should have exploited the princess in this way.
“Knowing the princess as I did, making her perform like this was a combination of seduction and betrayal.
“Panorama burnt her bridges with the rest of the Royal Family and cut her off, fatally, from the protection of the royal institution.”
Diana’s biographer, Andrew Morton, claimed: “She lived in a world of anxiety and possible surveillance.”
He alleged that Mr Bashir played on her anxieties and by 1995 she was convinced there was a plot against her.
