BBC admits editorial lapse in not challenging Prince Harry's claims of 'establishment stitch-up'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The BBC admitted on Tuesday, May 6, about the lapse in 'our usual high editorial standards' after not challenging Prince Harry's claim of being a victim of a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up'.
During the interview, which Harry gave after losing his London legal challenge, the Duke of Sussex also talked about a "pretty dark" conspiracy theory where he suggested shadowy figures want him dead.
BBC admits lapse in editorial standards after Prince Harry interview
Following Prince Harry's interview, a row broke out over the BBC's coverage, where the Duke of Sussex hit out at what he claimed was an "establishment stitch-up", including Buckingham Palace, according to the Daily Mail.
On its Corrections and Clarifications website, the BBC said, "We failed to properly challenge this and other allegations."
Moreover, the outlet admitted that it failed to reflect the statements from Buckingham Palace and the Home Office in its Radio 4 coverage of the interview the next morning.
During the Friday, May 2 interview, Harry spoke to BBC News for 31 minutes after losing a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements while in the United Kingdom, per the outlet.
Notably, senior judges upheld two earlier decisions that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, acted lawfully in giving him a special "bespoke" security package, and left Harry with an estimated $2 million (£1.5 million) legal bill, Daily Mail reported.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio 4's 'Today' show covered the duke describing his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up' on Saturday, May 3.
The broadcasters added that there was also an interview with close protection expert Richard Aitch, where Harry's "stitch-up" claims were "repeated".
The media outlet said, "This case is ultimately the responsibility of the Home Office, and we should have reflected their statement."
BBC added that the programme "should have given the view of Buckingham Palace," and "this was a lapse in our usual high editorial standards".
"The UK Government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security," the BBC mentioned.
Prince Harry's BBC interview
During the BBC interview, Prince Harry talked about his prospects of returning to the UK, his relationship with his family, and his anger at losing his right to automatic full security protection when visiting from the United States.
Harry told the BBC that any chance of a return to the UK for Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, is "impossible" in light of the Court of Appeal ruling.
The Duke of Sussex said he "can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point."
"The things that they're going to miss is, well, everything," Prince Harry said.
During the interview, Harry also mentioned that he doesn’t “want history to repeat itself” when he was asked about his mother, Princess Diana’s death.
The host asked, “How does that make you feel, given you have expressed numerous times that you do not want history to repeat itself?”
The Duke of Sussex replied, “Yes, I don't want history to repeat itself. I think there's a lot of other people out there, the majority, that also don't want history to repeat itself. But through the disclosure process, I've discovered that some people do want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.”
“I'm not going to share that at this point. I know all the names of the people that were involved in this process,” he added.
He also said, "I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done...So I miss the UK, I miss parts of the UK, of course I do and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."
Harry added that there had been "so many disagreements" in the family, but the "only thing that's left" is the row over his security, which he said had "always been the sticking point".
He also talked about the health of King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
"I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff but it would be nice to reconcile," Prince Harry said.
He added that some members of his family will never forgive him for writing his memoir Spare, and added, "It would be nice to have that reconciliation part now."
Prince Harry also said during the interview that regardless of whether he is carrying out royal duties, the security risks he faces remain the same and have only gotten worse in recent years.
"My status hasn't changed. It can't change. I am who I am. I am part of what I'm part of, and I can never escape that. My circumstances will always be the same," he said.
The Duke of Sussex added, "I've given 35 years of service to this country, two tours of Afghanistan. I was born into these risks, they've only increased over time."
