title: "The Princess Diana Interview That Was Built on Lies—Martin Bashir's Deception Exposed" description: "The famous 1995 Princess Diana interview was obtained through forged documents and manipulation. The truth came out 25 years later, and the consequences were devastating." date: "2025-11-22" author: "emily-chen" category: "Untold Stories" tags: ["princess diana", "martin bashir", "bbc", "interview", "scandal"] image: "https://pollinations.ai/p/elegant-princess-interview-setting-1990s-television-studio-dramatic-vulnerable-moment?width=1200&height=630&nologo=true" featured: false
The 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana was one of the most-watched broadcasts in television history. 23 million people watched Diana say "there were three of us in this marriage."
Twenty-five years later, the truth emerged: the interview was obtained through deception, forged documents, and manipulation of a vulnerable woman.
It may have contributed to her death.
The Interview
November 1995, BBC Panorama:
- Diana spoke about her marriage to Charles
- The affair with Camilla
- Her own struggles
- "There were three of us in this marriage"
It was a bombshell. It changed everything.
The Impact
The interview's consequences:
- Queen ordered Charles and Diana to divorce
- Public opinion shifted decisively to Diana
- The royal family's reputation damaged
- Diana became even more isolated
It was the most consequential royal interview ever.
Martin Bashir
The interviewer was Martin Bashir:
- BBC journalist
- Relatively unknown before this
- Made his career on the interview
- Later interviewed Michael Jackson
The Diana interview made him famous. It was also built on lies.
The Deception
How Bashir got the interview:
- Forged bank statements
- Showed them to Diana's brother Earl Spencer
- Claimed Diana was being spied on
- Claimed people close to her were being paid
- Fed her paranoia
He created false evidence to gain her trust.
The Forged Documents
The fake documents showed:
- Payments to security services
- Surveillance of Diana
- People around her being paid to spy
- All completely fabricated
A BBC graphic designer created them. On BBC equipment.
Earl Spencer's Role
Diana's brother Earl Spencer:
- Introduced Bashir to Diana
- Based on the forged documents
- Regretted it for decades
- Kept records that later proved the fraud
He was deceived into deceiving his sister.
Diana's Mental State
Diana at the time:
- Struggling with bulimia
- Suffering from depression
- Paranoid about surveillance
- Isolated and vulnerable
Bashir exploited her existing fears with fabricated evidence.
The BBC Cover-Up
When questions arose in 1996:
- The BBC investigated briefly
- Cleared Bashir
- Didn't interview key witnesses
- Destroyed evidence
The cover-up lasted 25 years.
The Dyson Investigation
In 2021, Lord Dyson investigated:
- Found Bashir used "deceitful behavior"
- BBC covered up the deception
- Fell short of "high standards of integrity"
- Bashir breached BBC guidelines
The full truth finally emerged.
Bashir's Defense
Bashir claimed:
- The documents didn't affect Diana's decision
- She wanted to tell her story
- He didn't coerce her
- He apologized for the documents
But the manipulation was clear.
The BBC Response
The BBC in 2021:
- Apologized unreservedly
- Paid substantial damages to Diana's former private secretary
- Reviewed editorial practices
- Tim Davie (Director-General) called it "a serious breach"
Twenty-five years too late.
Prince William's Statement
Prince William was devastating:
- "The interview was a major contribution to making my parents' relationship worse"
- "The interview established a false narrative"
- "It is my firm view that this deceitful interview substantially worsened my mother's health"
- "She was failed not just by a rogue reporter, but by leaders at the BBC"
He's never forgiven them.
Prince Harry's Statement
Harry was also critical:
- "Our mother lost her life because of this"
- The interview affected her final years
- The ripple effects were enormous
- The media's behavior was harmful
Both sons blame the interview for worsening her situation.
The Connection to Her Death
Did the interview contribute to Diana's death?
- It accelerated the divorce
- It increased her isolation
- It made her more pursued by media
- It affected her mental health
Direct causation is unprovable. Contribution is arguable.
Bashir's Career After
After Diana, Bashir:
- Interviewed Michael Jackson (2003) - also controversial
- Worked at ABC News
- Returned to BBC as religion editor
- Resigned "due to health reasons" when investigation concluded
He kept failing upward until he couldn't.
The Destroyed Evidence
The BBC destroyed evidence:
- The original graphic designer's files
- Notes from the original investigation
- Materials that could prove the fraud
- Institutional protection of a star
The cover-up was systematic.
The Precedent
The Diana interview set precedents:
- Manipulative journalism for access
- Exploiting vulnerable subjects
- Institutional protection of stars
- Delayed accountability
These patterns continue.
The Apology That Never Came
Bashir has never fully apologized:
- Said he was sorry about the documents
- Never acknowledged the full manipulation
- Never took real responsibility
- Claimed Diana was happy with the interview
The lack of remorse is notable.
What Diana Would Say
Speculation about Diana's view:
- She wanted to tell her story
- But would she want it this way?
- Based on lies and manipulation?
- Feeding her worst fears?
We can't know. She died in 1997.
The Media Lessons
The scandal teaches about media:
- Access can be manufactured
- Vulnerable people can be exploited
- Institutions protect their stars
- Truth takes decades to emerge
These patterns repeat across media.
The Royal Lessons
For the royals:
- Media is dangerous
- Trust must be earned
- Institutional protection matters
- Some wounds don't heal
William and Harry's media relationships were shaped by this.
The Legacy
The Bashir-Diana scandal's legacy:
- Most-watched interview in UK history
- Built entirely on deception
- Contributed to Diana's decline
- Took 25 years to expose
- Changed two princes forever
It's both historic and shameful.
The Bottom Line
The Princess Diana interview:
- A journalistic triumph
- Built on forgery and manipulation
- Of a vulnerable woman
- Who died two years later
- Covered up for 25 years
The most famous interview in British television history was a fraud.
And the woman at the center of it paid the highest price.
That's the true story of Martin Bashir and Princess Diana.
It's not a story about journalism. It's a story about exploitation.
And the BBC let it happen.
