Sir Max Hastings, former editor of The Daily Telegraph and interviewer of Princess Diana, said the people’s Princess once approached him in the months leading up to her explosive interview with BBC Panorama, in which she discussed her unsettled marriage to Prince Charles. Sir Hastings said Diana had voluntarily taken part in a “gripping” interview ahead of that one, which was never published.
The journalist said the interview was never published because of details which made him feel “sorry for her”.
He also said he thought “my job was to try and help them keep a lid on the worst of this”.
However, speaking to Channel 4 recently, the former Telegraph editor has revealed some details of the interview.
He said: “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.”
Succession to the throne is currently strictly regulated in more than one way.
Descent plays a part, but so do laws passed down by government.
READ: Queen and Prince Philip honour Prince William by handing over TWO patronages
In 2013, the Succession to the Crown act changed the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement to alter the rules.
Before the act was passed, males received preference in line to the throne so a younger son could overtake an older daughter. The 2013 legislation ended this particular system.
It also meant anyone who married a Roman Catholic would no longer be disqualified from holding a place in the line of succession.
In any case, Sir Hastings said he was “amazed by the frankness and directness” shown by Princess Diana in the alleged interview.
Recently, the Queen and Prince Philip handed down two royal patronages to Prince William.
The two environmentally-related patronages follow the Duke of Cambridge speaking out about the environment himself.
The Queen passed her patronage of Fauna & Flora International to William, while Philip passed on his British Trust for Ornithology patronage.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the two patronages signalled the Queen and Prince Philip “clearly have confidence” in William’s “abilities”.
He added William and wife Kate have “exemplars” in how they have conducted royal duties.
