Prince Harry has still not said a word about the new inquiry over Princess Diana's BBC interview from 25 years ago. His brother, Prince William, has apparently been in talks with the corporation's executives in the last two weeks and has released a statement declaring that he welcomes the inquiry.
The Duke of Sussex's silence implies that his rift with William remains, according to royal editor Ingrid Seward. The royal expert said that Harry's non-action over the interview, which completely changed his mother's relationship with the royal family, has been odd.
Seward told The Sun that Prince Harry is normally outspoken about issues concerning his mother. The royal expert questioned why he hasn't stood "shoulder to shoulder" with William, who has been on top of the issue for two weeks.
Sources told Daily Mail that William has a very personal stake in this inquiry because it is about protecting his mother's legacy. The Duke of Cambridge said that the inquiry is a "step in the right direction."
The source also said that BBC has kept William informed ever since the issue blew up in October, following the latest allegations that Panorama and its host, Martin Bashir, misled Princess Diana and her brother Earl Charles Spencer to gain the scoop of the century.
Former Supreme Court Judge Lord John Dyson will head the independent inquiry. According to Daily Mirror, some Dyson's objectives are to determine if Bashir took appropriate journalistic steps to secure the interview with Princess Diana and if BBC had knowledge over the alleged fake bank statements shown to the Spencers.
Earl Spencer said that Bashir convinced him and his sister that someone in the Palace was being paid off to speak ill of the Princess of Wales. Princess Diana's brother said that had he known that the documents were mocked up, he would not have introduced Bashir to his sister.
Since the controversy resurfaced, Bashir's camp said he's too ill to participate in the new investigation. However, Daily Mail published photos of the journalist on a recent London drive. Witnesses said that Bashir looked "slim and fit" as he sat at a cafe with his wife.
However, a spokesperson from BBC said that Bashir is "recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery" and has had COVID-19 complications. He's on sick leave from his work as the religion editor of the corporation.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, who has been based in Los Angeles since March, joined the Stand Up for Heroes fundraiserfor military servicemen on Nov. 18. Days before this virtual appearance, the Duke of Sussex volunteered to pack food parcels for veterans at a foundation based in Compton.
