Diana, Princess of Wales would still be alive today had she not been deceived by the BBC, investigative journalist and author of Dianarama, Andy Webb argues. In a special recording of A Right Royal Podcast, Andy said he believes the “real tragedy” is that Diana never found out the truth about how she was conned by Martin Bashir to take part in the 1995 Panorama interview.
But it wasn’t so much her participation in the interview that led to her downfall. It was the fact that the big bosses at the BBC did nothing when they found out one of their reporters, Bashir, had forged documents to convince Diana to sit for her explosive tell-all interview.
Within two years of that broadcast, Diana tragically lost her life in Paris, having fired her regular protection officers and surrounded herself with ramshackle security.
“There was a chance for the BBC to tell Diana [of Bashir’s wrongdoing],” Andy said. “Had they gone to Diana and said, ‘Look, this chap who seems to be your mate, Martin Bashir, he’s not.’ That is the tragedy which to this day her family finds so heartbreaking.
“Not so much the fact that Bashir was able to hoax and con Diana, but the fact that when these BBC bosses, two of whom currently still sit in the House of Lords today, had they decided differently and done things differently – chances are, Diana would be alive today.”
Andy was speaking to our hosts of A Right Royal Podcast Emily Nash and Andrea Caamano, and also joined on stage by author Ingrid Seward, who knew Diana personally. The recording took place in front of an audience of 70 HELLO! readers, in the newly refurbished ballroom of Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London.
Talk also turned to Diana’s legitimate fear, with Andy revealing that the late Princess really believed she would have a car accident, and that she had professionals regularly sweep her apartment at Kensington Palace for bugs.
“Diana was constantly doing a sweep for bugs,” Andy said. ” She did say she was convinced she was going to have an accident in her car. She really was convinced of that.
“And she had a private security guy called Graham Harding, who was ex-military, who did a professional sweep at Kensington Palace. There was one point where apparently he pointed his magic gadget at a bit of the wall and said, ‘Yes, there’s something on the other side.’ And apparently, he comes back the next day and repeats it and it’s gone. So, paranoia? If those sorts of things were happening in my life, I would be worried and I would be paranoid and worried.”
Elsewhere during the podcast event, Ingrid Seward was also joined by fashion designer Jacques Azagury on stage, who shared anecdotes about working with the late royal, who he described as his “least Princessy” client. He also shared heartbreaking details about attending Diana’s funeral in 1997, and which design requests of Diana he had to turn down.
Between recordings, our guests were treated to the hotel’s delectable Midsummer Night’s Dream afternoon tea, and had the chance to snap a selfie with one of Diana’s dresses on display, which was acquired by HELLO! magazine at auction.
Guests also left with a goodie bag packed with treats including Weleda Skin Food Original cream, Bronnley Lime soaps, ilapothecary Supreme Silk Face Cream, Dr. LEVY Switzerland skincare cream, and Michael Van Clarke haircare products.
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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