BBC pays damages to former nanny of Prince William and Harry over false claims | World News

The BBC on Thursday apologized to the previous nanny of Prince William and Harry over “false and malicious” claims made towards her as a part of a journalist's try and acquire an unique tv interview with Princess Diana.

Alexandra Pettifer, previously often known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, appeared at London's Excessive Court docket Thursday for a public apology from the broadcaster over false claims that she had an affair with Prince Charles whereas working as his private assistant in 1995.

Her lawyer advised the court docket the allegations triggered “critical private penalties for all involved.”

BBC director-general Tim Davie mentioned the company has agreed to pay “substantial damages” to Pettifer. The broadcaster had “did not ask the robust questions” about how the Diana interview was obtained, he added.

“I wish to take this chance to apologize publicly to her, to The Prince of Wales, and to the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, for the best way through which Princess Diana was deceived and the following affect on all their lives,” Davie mentioned in an announcement.

William and Harry have strongly criticized the BBC for its shortcomings after an investigation discovered that one among its journalists, Martin Bashir, used deceitful means to safe the explosive Diana interview in 1995.

Within the interview, a serious scoop for Bashir, Diana famously mentioned that “there have been three of us on this marriage” — referring to Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Her candid account of her failing marriage with Charles was watched by hundreds of thousands of individuals and despatched shockwaves via the monarchy.

Pettifer's lawyer, Louise Prince, mentioned the previous nanny hadn't identified the supply of the allegations towards her over the previous 25 years. However it now appeared probably that the claims arose as a part of the BBC's efforts to acquire the Diana interview, Prince mentioned.

The false claims — together with an allegation that Pettifer grew to become pregnant with Charles' child and had an abortion — appeared to use prior false media hypothesis, the lawyer mentioned.

She mentioned Diana confronted Pettifer in regards to the allegation in late 1995, and advised a member of the royal family that she had a hospital letter proving the abortion occurred.

“Because the allegation of an abortion was completely false, any such letter might solely have been fabricated," Prince mentioned.

Davie mentioned the broadcaster would by no means present the Diana interview once more or license it to different broadcasters.

Pettifer mentioned after the listening to that she was dissatisfied authorized motion was wanted.

The BBC has already paid damages to Diana's former aide in addition to a former BBC producer who was dismissed after he alerted editors to faked paperwork that Bashir used to achieve entry to Diana.