It remains one of the most defining moments in modern royal history. When Diana, Princess of Wales, secretly recorded her landmark Panorama interview in 1995, her intention was simply to tell her side of a fractured story. But for her eldest son, Prince William, the public broadcast proved to be deeply devastating.
Speaking at a special live recording of HELLO!‘s A Right Royal Podcast at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, royal author and Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward revealed that the broadcast triggered the worst argument the mother and son had ever had.
The young Prince, who was just 13 and had only recently started his studies at Eton College, was left completely blindsided by the TV special.
“He watched it at Eton in his housemaster’s study,” Ingrid told the audience in the hotel’s newly refurbished Ballroom. “He was absolutely furious with her, as well as embarrassed and humiliated.
“When he next went back to Kensington Palace, he had a huge fight with her – it was really their worst-ever fight. It was all very dramatic, but they did eventually make up. Still, at the time, it was an incredibly distressing and emotional experience for him.”
Diana’s side of the story
During the historic 54-minute interview, which was watched by an estimated 23 million viewers, Diana spoke candidly about the breakdown of her marriage to the then-Prince Charles, her struggles with bulimia, and her doubts regarding Charles’ suitability to be King.
While the immediate fallout caused an immense strain on her relationship with William, the long-term repercussions of the broadcast continue to shadow the royal family. In 2021, a formal independent inquiry led by Lord Dyson concluded that BBC journalist Martin Bashir had used deceptive methods – including faking bank statements – to manipulate Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, into facilitating the interview.
Prince William’s 2021 statement
Following the inquiry’s damning findings, Prince William released an unprecedentedly powerful and personal statement, reflecting the exact humiliation and anxiety Ingrid described.
William stated that the deceitful way the interview was secured “substantially influenced” what his mother said, noting that the programme was a major contribution to making his parents’ relationship worse.
In a poignant reflection on his teenage years, the now Prince of Wales added: “It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her.” He concluded with a firm call for the historical feature to be shelved permanently, stating it “holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again”.
The details of William and Diana’s exposive fall out was just one of several revelations shared during our exclusive live event. From heartbreaking details from her funeral to why she started wearing black in her post-royal glow-up, the full conversation is a must-watch for any royal follower.
Ingrid was interviewed by our podcast hosts Emily Nash and Andrea Caamano alongside fashion designer Jacques Azagury, the mastermind behind Diana’s post-royal style glow-up, and investigative journalist Andy Webb, author of Dianarama, to uncover the real Diana.
Guests took home a goodie bag packed with luxury skincare and haircare treats by brands including Weleda, Bronnley, ilapothecary and Dr. LEVY Switzerland, and had the chance to snap a selfie with one of Diana’s dresses on display, which was acquired by HELLO! magazine at auction.
How to watch the podcast episode
Watch the full episode of HELLO!’s special live A Right Royal Podcast episode below:
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