25 years since Princess Diana BBC Panorama interview: Why is Earl Spencer calling for an inquiry?

Diana’s brother has called on the BBC to open an inquiry into her infamous interview with Martin Bashir, that first aired on 20 November 1995

Princess Diana at a polo match in 1985 (Richard Young/Rex Features)

Depending on your age, your knowledge of Princess Diana may only extend to her role as mother of Prince Harry and Prince William, her character’s forthcoming representation in The Crown, and her tragic death at the age of just 36-years-old.

However, this month marks 25 years since “The People’s Princess” broke with royal convention and agreed to a landmark interview with journalist Martin Bashir for BBC One’s Panorama.

Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, has now called on the BBC to open an inquiry into the infamous meeting.

But why now – and what made the interview so sensational? Here’s everything you need to know.

Why was the interview so historic?

Viewed by 23 million people in the UK, the frank interview exposed truths about her marriage, personal life and the royals that were previously the stuff of tabloid rumour mills.

Three years after their separation, Diana questioned Prince Charles’ suitability to be king and, famously said (in reference to Camilla Parker Bowles): “Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” The Princess also admitted to her own affair with army captain James Hewitt.

She also spoke of her own postnatal depression, of her bulimia and self-harm and the lack of support she had felt from within the royal family.

Her decision to even speak to the media was deeply controversial, with the Queen adopting a “never complain, never explain” approach in an effort to keep royal matters behind closed doors.

The BBC described the interview as “the scoop of a generation”.

What was the response?

Questions were asked as to how the young and relatively unknown reporter Bashir had managed to secure such a high-profile interview.

A BBC graphic designer then claimed that Bashir had asked him to make fake bank statements to convince Diana to proceed with the interview, prompting the BBC to conduct an internal investigation. 

It found that the princess had not seen the documentation, concluding: “The BBC has been able, independently, to verify that these documents were put to no use which had any bearing, direct or indirect, on the Panorama interview with the Princess of Wales.”

The interview also sounded the death toll for Diana’s relationship with the royal family.

Why is it now subject to new scrutiny?

A recent Channel 4 documentary into how Bashir secured the interview has prompted new speculation, particularly the news that the BBC graphic designer alleged to have produced the fake documents left the corporation shortly after the incident.

Last week, Earl Spencer released further documents that he claims were forged and used to coerce both he and Diana into speaking with Bashir, making them believe their staff were leaking information to the press.

Charles Spencer described the BBC’s investigation following the interview as a “whitewash”.

Writing on Twitter on 5 November, the Earl said: “The BBC has shown itself incapable of honestly facing up to the ugly truth of this matter.

“When the @BBC say they've 'apologised' to me, what they've apologised for is showing me false bank statements relating to a lesser, unrelated, matter. They haven't apologised for the fake bank statements and other deceit that led to me introducing @MartinBashir to my sister.“

What has Martin Bashir and the BBC said?

The BBC has said that Bashir, now the BBC’s religious affairs correspondent, is currently unwell with Covid-19 complications, and that they are unable to discuss it with him.

In a statement published on 3 November, the BBC said: “The BBC has apologised. We are happy to repeat that apology. And while this was a quarter of a century ago, we absolutely will investigate – robustly and fairly – substantive new information.”

It continued: "We have asked Earl Spencer to share further information with the BBC. Unfortunately, we are hampered at the moment by the simple fact that we are unable to discuss any of this with Martin Bashir, as he is seriously unwell.

“When he is well, we will of course hold an investigation into these new issues."