The programme, titled simply An interview with HRH The Princess of Wales, lacked any indication of the controversy it would spark. It became the most disputed broadcast in BBC history.
Though 23 million viewers in the UK and 200 million globally tuned in that November night in 1995, the content was far from a straightforward interview. Filmed two weeks prior, it was a carefully staged performance, a dual act rehearsed and executed with a precise purpose.
Diana appeared with wide, vulnerable eyes, comparing herself to a hunted fawn as she famously stated:
“There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
She delivered her lines with unexpected ease, responding to questions with well-rehearsed, impactful soundbites. Like a seasoned celebrity on a talk show, she effortlessly provided memorable remarks, including:
“I'd like to be a queen of people's hearts. In people's hearts.”
The interviewer, Panorama’s Martin Bashir, did not shy away from intimate topics, asking Diana if she had been unfaithful to Charles and if she had sexual relations with her boyfriend, James Hewitt, during their marriage. Diana responded candidly:
“I adored him.”
This investigation reveals the programme was a calculated production designed to craft a specific narrative, significantly shaping public perception of the royal marriage.