BBC chairman calls for Royal family’s ‘respect’
National broadcaster stands by documentary despite palaces’s anger at its ‘unfounded claims’
THE BBC will not back down to Palace anger over a controversial royal documentary, as its chairman called on the family to “respect” the content.
Richard Sharp, chairman of the BBC, said he hoped “we have got it right” in airing The Princes and the Press, shortly after the corporation was heavily criticised for the Martin Bashir scandal.
The corporation is standing by the BBC Two show and plans to broadcast a second episode and podcast on Monday.
Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, representing all senior members of the Royal family, have already made clear their disappointment at “overblown and unfounded” claims being legitimised by the national broadcaster.
Broadcast rights to a carol concert arranged by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will now go to ITV in a lastminute change.
Mr Sharp, speaking to the Voice of the Listener and Viewer autumn conference, said of the dispute: “Obviously, we are particularly sensitive to this as an organisation, particularly in light of events around Bashir.
“I hope in this case we have got it right and I hope the Royal family in its entirety respects the output that this programme represents.”
Mr Sharp said he had been assured that the Palace was approached before broadcast and offered a right of reply.
But he added: “If that wasn’t the case, I will learn that in the fullness of time.”
On news that broadcast rights for the carol concert have been given to ITV, he said: “The BBC is a national institution and we approach our relationships with other national institutions with great care and thought.
“We have tremendous respect for all aspects of the Royal family in all that they undertake.
“From time to time, this organisation produces programmes that may or may not meet with the full agreement of different parts of the Establishment and that is also true of the Government, the judiciary, and other important parts of our society. Our job is to get that right, to be independent, to be respectful and fair.”
The BBC faced serious criticism from the Duke of Cambridge earlier this year over its behaviour during the Bashir scandal in which his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was persuaded to take part in the Panorama interview in 1995. The scandal did not appear in the first episode, despite detailing unlawful behaviour of private investigators and phone hackers against Prince William, Prince Harry, and their then girlfriends. Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace believe the BBC failed to fulfil its journalistic obligations by not offering a full right of reply to accusations. The palaces argue that staff have not been given enough information about the contents to respond properly.
The BBC insists it adhered to all broadcasting guidelines, and will not re-edit the film to take in royal complaints, despite last-minute changes to include details of the court case between the Duchess of Sussex and Mail on Sunday.
The Palace fears the second episode will legitimise unproven tabloid stories, including allegations that briefings about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex leaving the Royal family were leaked from one of the households.
A dispute with the BBC could have huge repercussions, particularly as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is next year.
The carol concert, involving the Cambridge family, will be recorded at Westminster Abbey in early December.
An ITV source said: “It was unusual for it to come to us this late.”