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The BBC fell short of its high standards for integrity over how it persuaded Princess Diana to give the broadcaster an interview in 1995, a report concluded.
- The journalist involved, Martin Bashir, was found guilty of deceitful behaviour
- Bashir showed fake bank statements to persuade Diana's brother Charles Spencer to introduce his sister to him
- In the interview, the princess admitted to an affair and shared intimate details of her marriage to Prince Charles
The journalist involved, Martin Bashir, was found guilty of deceitful behaviour, with the report finding Bashir had shown fake bank statements to persuade Diana's brother Charles Spencer to introduce his sister to him.
"The BBC offers that today."
The BBC set up the investigation, headed by former senior court judge John Dyson, to look into how the interview was secured.
Watched by more than 20 million viewers in Britain, the princess shocked the nation by admitting to an affair and sharing intimate details of her marriage to Prince Charles.
Last week, the BBC announced Bashir was leaving his current job as the publicly funded broadcaster's religious affairs editor because of ill health. He has made no comment on the matter.
The interview with Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash two years later, came at a nadir for the royal family and was the first time she had made public comments about her marriage.
Her remark that "there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded" — a reference to Prince Charles rekindling his relationship with his Camilla Parker Bowles, now his second wife — was particularly damaging to the royal family.
Charles Spencer said in order to get the interview, Bashir told him his sister was being bugged by the security services and that two senior aides were being paid to provide information about her.
Reuters: Robert Galbraith
)He said Bashir provided fake bank statements to back up the claim.
Both Princess Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, welcomed the investigation as a chance to find out the truth of what had happened.
Bashir apologised for mocking up the documents in a statement quoted by the BBC.
However, he said he remained "immensely proud" of the interview.
"The bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview.
"Evidence handed to the inquiry in her own handwriting (and published alongside the report today) unequivocally confirms this, and other compelling evidence presented to Lord Dyson reinforces it."
ABC/Reuters