Here's why Princess Diana is back in the news
Almost 25 years after her tragic death, Princess Diana has been back in the news for a few days. The BBC has indeed launched an independent investigation Wednesday to shed light on an explosive interview in which she opened on her difficult marriage to Prince Charles.
Here are the details of this new royal saga:
Independent investigation
The BBC on Wednesday launched an independent investigation to unravel how one of its journalists, accused of having falsified documents, obtained in 1995 the shattering interview with Princess Diana in which she recounted the breakdown of her marriage to the prince charles.
The BBC's board of directors has appointed a former Supreme Court justice, John Dyson, to lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the interview, carried out in 1995 for the Panorama program, according to a statement.
What did the 1995 interview reveal?
The interview, watched by 22.8 million Britons, had the effect of a bomb.
William and Harry's mother, who died two years later in a tragic car accident in Paris, claimed that there were "three people" in her marriage, in reference to Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now his wife. Princess Diana admitted to having an affair herself.
This interview, which was one of the greatest scoops of the 20th century, lifted the veil on the intimate life of the royal family. The couple separated in 1992, before divorcing in 1996. Prince Charles, heir to the crown, then married Camilla, in a discreet civil ceremony in 2005.
Request for an apology
25 years later, Diana's brother Charles Spencer accuses Martin Bashir of forging documents to obtain it. He claims Mr Bashir showed him account statements - which turned out to be false - proving that the security services were paying two people in court to spy on his sister.
"If I hadn't seen these records, I would never have introduced Bashir to my sister," he wrote in a letter to the BBC, asking for an apology for these "dishonest" methods.
"The BBC is determined to shed light on these events and that is why we have commissioned an independent investigation," said its managing director Tim Davie.
What will the investigation be about?
The investigation will look into the conduct of Martin Bashir, little known at the time but propelled by this scoop towards an international career, and will examine "the supposed statements of accounts" of which Mr. Spencer speaks. She will also be interested in what the BBC knew and will try to determine whether the institution had knowingly protected its journalist.
Prince William welcomes the opening of an investigation
Prince William welcomed the launch of this independent investigation by the BBC on Wednesday evening. “This independent investigation is a step in the right direction,” commented the prince, second in line of succession to the British throne.
“This should help establish the truth behind the actions that led to the Panorama interview and the decisions made by those who were at the BBC at the time,” he added.
Lady Di in The Crown
The person of Princess Diana will also be part of The Crown series on Netflix. The platform unveiled in September the first images of the new episodes of this fourth season of the royal drama.
Princess Diana is played by Emma Corrin, a 24-year-old actress.
