Princess Diana during her Panorama interview.Photo: Getty Images
That took place as Bashir was working to convince Diana’s brotherCharles Spencerto introduce him to the princess.
Lawyer Louis Charalambous from Simons Muirhead Burton LLP said in a statement: “Mr. Wiessler is relieved that the BBC has now matched the Director General’s fulsome apologies with appropriate financial compensation for the wrongs done to him and the profound impact they had on his and his family’s life.”
Princess Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes speaks with Prince Harry and Charles, Earl Spencer at the unveiling of a statue dedicated to Diana at Kensington Palace on July 1.Alamy Stock Photo
“It is important to my client that the BBC has acknowledged that he acted properly and responsibly throughout.”
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The settlement comes five months after former High Court judge Lord John Dyson concluded that Bashir breached the BBC’s editorial guidelines. Director-General Tim Davie accepted the findings in May and said Dyson’s report was “clear that the process for securing the interview fell far short of what audiences have a right to expect.”
The statement continued, “We also apologise to Mr. Wiessler’s family. Mr. Wiessler acted with complete integrity, including in raising his concerns at the time and we are sorry that these were not listened to. We wish Mr. Wiessler all the best for the future.”
After Dyson’s report,Prince William— without naming Bashir — spoke of his anger at how the program had exacerbated Diana’s feelings of paranoia. He said that “the BBC’s failurescontributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolationthat I remember from those final years with her.”
Charles, 9th Earl Spencer.DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking exclusivelyto PEOPLE in November 2020, Earl Spencer stated that Bashir’s documents played a hugely influential role in his decision to approach Diana about the interview, as they alleged that a member of his staff was being paid to leak information about the princess’s family.
“This was what led me to talk to Diana about such things,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “This, in turn, led to the meeting where I introduced Diana to Bashir, on September 19, 1995. This then led to the interview.”
Tiggy Legge-Bourke Prince Harry and Prince Charles.Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty
source: people.com
