Royal family criticises BBC documentary for ‘overblown’ claims

The first edition of the two-part BBC documentary The Princes and The Press aired yesterday. It features an interview with author Omid Scobie, who stated that certain bad articles about the Sussexes are spread by other royal family members. The episode is hosted by Self-declared republican Amol Rajan and focuses on the relationship of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex with the media.

Not only this, but the documentary also claims that other royal houses leaked information to the press about Meghan's terrible behaviour toward servants shortly after the wedding in 2018. While the documentary gives credit to these claims, the royal family is furious at the representation of these charges. Scobie commented on this,

There has been a lot of rumours for some time that a lot of the most damaging stories about Harry and Meghan, which have ended up in the pages of the Press, have come from the other royal households or from other royal aides or courtiers. From my own experience that is true.

Disappointing, to say the least

The Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William issued a united statement saying it was disappointing that the Beeb gave credit to the claims. They have slammed the BBC for airing such overblown and baseless claims. Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace sent a statement to the BBC, which was shown at the end of the episode and it said,

A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy.

However, too often it is overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources that are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility.

Further, during the show, a lawyer representing Meghan responded to reports from 2018 about the Duchess of Sussex's alleged abuse of royal staff.

False stories

Allegedly, the duchess fired two personal assistants and humiliated royal staff on many occasions. However, Meghan has always firmly rejected the claims. On the other hand, Buckingham Palace has subsequently initiated an investigation. The royal household has enlisted the help of an outside legal team to investigate the allegations. On the show, Jenny Afia of the law firm Schillings told Rajan:

Those stories were false. This narrative that no one can work for the Duchess of Sussex, she was too difficult and demanding as a boss and everyone had to leave, it's just not true.

Moreover, after the devastating impacts of Prince Charles and Diana’s media attack, Prince William prohibited royal staff from briefing against family members. As per a royal senior:

William was clear from the start we were never to brief and never to say anything about anyone in the other households.

He’d lived through that in the ’90s with his parents in the War of the Waleses and doesn’t ever want it happening again. He’s in a much better place (with the Press) than his brother.