KEY POINTS

  • Prince William said Princess Diana was deceived into doing the controversial Panorama interview  
  • The Duke of Cambridge said his mom was failed by a rogue reporter and the leaders at the BBC
  • Prince Harry said the culture of exploitation and unethical practices killed their mother

Prince Harry and Prince William shared the same sentiment about their mom Princess Diana's infamous Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex are allegedly not on speaking terms following their friendly reunion at Prince Philip's funeral. However, the royal siblings share the same opinions on Bashir's interview with their late mother.

Princess Diana's sons received letters of apology from the BBC over Bashir's conduct and subsequent cover-up 25 years later. Prince William responded by reading his statement to the camera in a courtyard at Kensington Palace. In his statement, the duke was convinced that the interview had no legitimacy and contributed to his parents’ divorce.

"It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said," Kate Middleton's husband said in a statement obtained by Daily Mail. "The interview was a major contribution to making my parents' relationship worse and has since hurt countless others. It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC's failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation."

The future king said he was saddened the most by the network's failure to investigate the complaints and concerns first raised in 1995 that would have let his mom realize she was deceived. Prince William felt that Princess Diana was failed by "a rogue reporter" and the leaders at the BBC. Thus, he insisted that the interview never be aired again.

"It is my firm view that this Panorama program holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialized by the BBC and others," he added.

Prince William noted several concerns including the BBC employees lying and using fake documents to obtain his mom's interview, making lurid and false claims about the royal family, and displaying woeful incompetence when investigating complaints and concerns about the program.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry blamed the interview for their mom’s death. Just like his older brother, the Duke of Sussex was convinced that their mother was exploited.

"Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave, and unquestionably honest. The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life," Prince Harry was quoted by Page Six as saying.

Princess Diana with William and Harry
Princess Diana, Princess of Wales with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on May 7, 1995 in London. Anwar Hussein/Getty Images