LONDON (CU)_Earlier this week, the British Broadcasting Corporation aired the first part of its new documentary The Princes and the Press, which put the spotlight on the relationship between the media and the younger generation of Windsors. It examined how the media had treated the younger royal couples, the Duck and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, highlighting disparities in press coverage between the two. The show was presented by BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan, who spent months putting the documentary together, which offered behind-the-scenes peek at the inner workings of the Firm that have been kept hidden from the public.
Among those who were interviewed in the documentary was Meghan’s lawyer, Jenny Afia, who appeared on the show to answer questions on her behalf. Her participation raised the possibility that she may have been informed by BBC regarding what was going to be on the documentary, as she was the only member of the Royal Family to take part in the show. This is particular may have left the other members of the firm enraged as they were denied the opportunity to have a fair right of reply before the show was broadcast. Despite a series of meetings between Prince William’s representatives and the BBC, the national broadcaster had reportedly refused to screen to courtiers before broadcast.
Therefore, not long after the programme was aired on Monday (22 Nov), the Royal Family hit back in a rare joint statement released by the three royal households, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House. “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,” it read.
The firm has also warned BBC chiefs that the anti-Monarchist documentary may be reported to Ofcom.
