The Royal Family Issues Harsh Statement Over William And Harry Documentary
The new and explosive BBC documentary, "The Princes and the Press," is causing major trouble within the royal family.
The Daily Mail reports the doc, from journalist Amol Rajan, covers Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to defect from the monarchy, as well as the disintegration of Harry's relationship with brother Prince William as a result of their leaving. Shocking claims in the film suggest that both brothers attempted to smear each other in the press — but insiders are denying anything untoward occurred. Moreover, several high-ranking royals are threatening to boycott the BBC over the documentary, even claiming they weren't given the proper opportunity to view or reply to it in advance.
William, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Charles are also planning to complain to regulator Ofcom for the first time ever. As royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams claimed to the Mail, they're clearly concerned about the purportedly "incendiary material" in the documentary. However, drawing attention to the two-part series might have the opposite effect. As Fitzwilliams pointed out, "The reported protests from the palace obviously run the risk of increasing the viewing figures, but clearly the content may be such that the Palace feels that the public should be warned that, if they watch, they are seeing a point of view which may be strongly disputed." Part 1 covers the early 2000s, while Part 2 chronicles 2018 to 2021.
Now, the royals are making their issues clear in a strong public statement decrying "The Princes and the Press."
The palace made a rare move to denounce the documentary about William and Harry
Regarding the controversial documentary on Prince William and Prince Harry, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace said in a joint statement (via the Daily Mail): "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."
ITV reports that such a statement is a rare move from the royal family. In fact, this particular statement is so noteworthy because, more often than not, the royals decline to comment at all.
Per The Sun, royal author Omid Scobie claimed that palace sources have, in fact, leaked details about the royal family. "There has been a lot of rumors ... that a lot of the most damaging and negative stories about Harry and Meghan ... have come from the other royal households or from other royal aides or courtiers," he said. "From my own experience that is true." But royal commentator Camilla Tominey strongly countered this incendiary idea in her own article, stating that she'd never "been called by the palace press office and actively briefed a story," nor did she buy the idea that palace staff would call up reporters to say, "You'll never believe what Meghan did today."
Moreover, journalists claimed to have been actively lied to about certain stories, including when Prince Charles was cheating on then-wife Princess Diana with now-wife Camilla Parker Bowles.