The BBC apologized to the
former nanny of Prince William and Harry over “false and malicious” claims made
against her as part of a journalist’s attempt to obtain an exclusive television
interview with Princess Diana.
Alexandra Pettifer, formerly
known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, appeared at London’s High Court Thursday for a
public apology from the broadcaster over false claims that she had an affair
with Prince Charles while working as his personal assistant in 1995.
Her lawyer told the court the
allegations caused “serious personal consequences for all concerned.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie
said the corporation has agreed to pay “substantial damages” to Pettifer. The
broadcaster had “failed to ask the tough questions” about how the Diana
interview was obtained, he added.
“I would like to take this
opportunity to apologize publicly to her, to The Prince of Wales, and to the
Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived
and the subsequent impact on all their lives,” Davie said in a statement.
William and Harry have
strongly criticized the BBC for its shortcomings after an investigation found
that one of its journalists, Martin Bashir, used deceitful means to secure the
explosive Diana interview in 1995.
In the interview, a major
scoop for Bashir, Diana famously said that “there were three of us in this
marriage” — referring to Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla
Parker-Bowles. Her candid account of her failing marriage with Charles was
watched by millions of people and sent shockwaves through the monarchy.
Pettifer’s lawyer, Louise
Prince, said the former nanny hadn’t known the source of the allegations
against her over the past 25 years. But it now appeared likely that the claims
arose as part of the BBC’s efforts to procure the Diana interview, Prince said.
The false claims — including
an allegation that Pettifer became pregnant with Charles’ baby and had an
abortion — appeared to exploit prior false media speculation, the lawyer said.
She said Diana confronted
Pettifer about the allegation in late 1995, and told a member of the royal
household that she had a hospital letter proving the abortion happened.
“As the allegation of an
abortion was totally false, any such letter could only have been
fabricated,” Prince said.
Davie said the broadcaster
would never show the Diana interview again or license it to other broadcasters.
Pettifer said after the
hearing that she was disappointed legal action was needed.
The BBC has already paid damages
to Diana’s former aide as well as a former BBC producer who was dismissed after
he alerted editors to faked documents that Bashir used to gain access to Diana.
