Bracing for more storms

THE Royal Family faces a difficult time ahead.this week two events threaten further upset in a turbulent year.

First, there’s the thorny issue of the BBC’S The Princes And The Press.there are many royal documentaries – I have written over a dozen – and they usually don’t meet with any official response but it is the Palace’s robust reaction to part one of Amol Rajan’s investigation that has created a storm.

However, likely to be far more damaging is the start of Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal trial in New York.

A long-time friend of Prince Andrew, she was his crucial link to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew is accused in a civil case of sexual offences against Virginia Giuffre, who also claims she was abused by Epstein and Maxwell. Giuffre may not give evidence in the Maxwell case but there could still be awkward questions relating to Andrew’s unwise relationships, although he strongly denies Giuffre’s charges against him.

Maxwell’s trial gives ample scope for embarrassment – and court cases have tended to unveil secrets the royals prefer to keep hidden, which is why they adhered to a policy of “never complain, never explain”.

But last week they criticised the BBC for airing “overblown and unfounded claims”.they had not been given the courtesy of a preview, whereas Meghan had her lawyer defending her.

No doubt the Palaces will be looking to see if part two observes the BBC’S own guidelines of “achieving due impartiality in all its output”.

William has now offered the broadcast opportunity of a charity concert to ITV in a snub to the BBC. As they say, more

follows.