Royal Cover-Up and BBC Deception Revealed After 20-Year Investigation
The programme, promoted simply as 'An interview with HRH The Princess of Wales' without any indication of its content, became the most controversial broadcast in BBC history.
Viewed by 23 million people in the UK and 200 million worldwide that November night in 1995, the encounter between Panorama journalist Martin Bashir and Diana was far from a typical interview.
Recorded two weeks earlier, it was a carefully scripted performance, designed and rehearsed with a clear purpose in mind.
Diana's Memorable Statements
Diana appeared visibly vulnerable, her eyes wide like a hunted fawn's, as she declared:
“There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
This line was sharply delivered and instantly unforgettable. With surprising ease, Diana responded with well-prepared soundbites, much like a celebrity on a talk show.
She confidently delivered memorable remarks such as:
“I'd like to be a queen of people's hearts. In people's hearts.”
Challenging Questions
Not all questions were gentle. Bashir pressed on sensitive topics, including whether Diana had been unfaithful during her marriage to Prince Charles.
“Were you unfaithful?” he asked.
Diana replied candidly,
“I adored him.”
Author's Summary
This investigation reveals how Diana's 1995 interview was a staged performance crafted to produce iconic moments, shaping public perception through rehearsed responses and intimate revelations.