‘WILLIAM'S WORDS WERE DAMNING AND PERSONAL'

ROYAL EXPERT KATIE NICHOLL EXPLAINS WHY THE UNPRECEDENTED STATEMENT PRINCE WILLIAM MADE ABOUT HIS MOTHER DIANA’S PANORAMA INTERVIEW WAS VERY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT

- KIRSTY HATCHER, KAT ROMERO

The Duke of Cambridge has opened up on his “indescribable sadness” over the way his tragic mother, Princess Diana, was duped into giving a landmark Panorama interview in 1995.

In a rare move by the senior royal, Prince William delivered an impassioned on-camera speech in which he spoke about the findings of an independent report that concluded the BBC’s practices fell below standards.

Blasting the broadcaster, William said the “deceitful way” the interview with Martin Bashir was obtained had not only “substantially influenced” what his mother said but contributed to Diana’s “fear, paranoia and isolation” – and made his parents’ relationship “worse”.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl told OK!,“It’s certainly an unprecedented move from a senior royal to attack the BBC. But this statement was not made out of the blue and William has been behind the investigation into this interview from the start.

“It was an incredibly damning and personal statement that showed how much this has affected William over the years.