Princess Diana’s Brother Says BBC Left Her “Vulnerable” When She Died

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Earl Charles Spencer isn’t mincing his words.

Four years after an internal review revealed journalist Martin Bashir misled Princess Diana to get his famous 1995 interview with her, her brother now believes the interview contributed to her untimely death.

According to an interview published November 24th, Spencer claims that highly-placed individuals at the BBC used shocking deceit to obtain the interview. He believes this deception directly contributed to Princess Diana’s vulnerability and ultimately, her death in Paris.

Prior to the tragic car crash in 1997, Bashir presented Diana with fake bank records. He claimed these showed that people close to her, including her private secretary Patrick Jephson, were being paid to monitor her activities.

Jephson told People magazine that she was understandably anxious. He explained, ‘If you have a good reason to think someone is targeting you, it’s not paranoia – it’s justified concern.’

Bashir also alleged that King Charles III was having an affair with Princes William and Harry’s nanny, and he even presented falsified documents claiming the nanny had an abortion. This led Diana to agree to be interviewed by him.

His deceit had a devastating impact, Jephson shared.

It’s unsettling to think back on what happened and realize Diana saw me as the threat, he said. Because she’d been manipulated into not trusting official security, she ended up relying on people who weren’t qualified to protect her.

The BBC admitted it was wrong and issued a public apology on November 25th, according to a statement to TopMob News. They fully accepted the report’s findings and took responsibility for their role in its conclusions.

Bashir, too, has apologized. 

In a 2021 statement to the U.K. press, Bashir said this was the second time he had fully cooperated with an investigation into events that happened over 25 years prior. He reiterated his apology for requesting that bank statements be altered, calling it a foolish act he deeply regrets.

For a look back at Princess Diana over the years, keep reading.

Princess Diana was known for her varied fashion choices throughout her life. She often experimented with different gown styles, including those with off-the-shoulder designs. One memorable example is the chiffon gown by David Sassoon she wore to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1981. It was decorated with a pink and blue pattern, sparkling details, and ribbons. She finished the outfit with a pearl necklace, a matching bracelet, diamond earrings, and a clutch.

In 1983, while in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, King Charles, the princess wore a beautiful lavender gown with off-the-shoulder straps and a bow detail, designed by Donald Campbell. She completed the look with the Prince of Wales Feathers necklace and pearl earrings.

Fans will always remember Princess Diana’s iconic “revenge dress,” created by Christina Stambolian. She wore it to a Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1994, the same night a televised interview with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Prince Charles, aired. In the interview, Charles admitted the marriage ended when it was beyond repair, but maintained his fidelity until that point.

Another iconic look is the midnight blue velvet gown by Victor Edelstein that Princess Diana famously wore to the White House in 1985. She danced with John Travolta that night, and the dress quickly became known as the “Travolta dress.”

Princess Diana wasn’t afraid of color, and pink was a favorite! She famously wore a vibrant pink Catherine Walker dress with flowing sleeves and a pleated skirt during a trip to Sicily in 1985. She completed the look with a matching hat by John Boyd, a white clutch, and pearls.

Diana wore a matching outfit—a Versace dress—during a 1995 visit to Argentina, completing the look with gold knot earrings, a black handbag, and black heels.

Diana wasn’t afraid to make a statement with her accessories, especially choker necklaces. For example, she paired a dazzling choker with a purple Versace gown at a 1996 gala dinner held at Chicago’s Field Museum.

During her 1985 trip to Italy with Charles, Princess Diana wore a striking pearl choker to a Commonwealth War Graves ceremony in Anzio. The necklace complemented her pearl earrings. She finished the look with a red and white hat and a red striped dress by Catherine Walker, along with a gold watch.

Her skillful use of color combinations is also striking. A great example is the blue and white Catherine Walker suit and Philip Somerville hat Diana wore during her 1989 trip to Dubai.

Or her use of pink and red in her suit and hat by the designers during the same visit.

As a lifelong fan, I’ve always been captivated by Princess Diana’s style! She really embraced the trends of the 80s, and I think her wedding dress is the most iconic example of that. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, it was just breathtaking – puffy sleeves, a beautiful ruffled neckline, delicate lace, and that incredibly full skirt with a train that seemed to go on forever! It’s so sad to remember that despite such a magical beginning, Diana and Charles eventually separated in 1992 and divorced four years later.

Princess Diana often wore elegant one-shoulder gowns. One memorable example was a white, crystal-beaded silk chiffon dress by Hachi, which she wore during a 1985 visit to the National Gallery in Washington D.C.

Diana wore a striking, one-of-a-kind blue dress by Bruce Oldfield to a fashion show supporting Birthright, a charity she supported. The dress had ruffles and a circular design. She completed the look with her classic pearl choker, bracelet, earrings, and a small clutch.

Diana had a diverse outerwear collection, ranging from varsity jackets to wool coats and puffers. She often styled her jackets casually, sometimes simply draping them over her shoulders. A memorable example is when she wore a white coat over her floral Donald Campbell dress at the airport in Hampshire, as she and Charles began their honeymoon in 1981.

In 1994, Diana paired a black blazer with her dress while visiting the Alfred Dunhill shop in London. She completed the outfit with pearls, a delicate bracelet, and a black purse featuring a gold chain.

Wide, statement belts were a fashion staple in the 1980s, and Princess Diana clearly embraced the look. During a 1988 trip to Bangkok, Thailand, she paired a turquoise belt with a patterned top and white pencil skirt, cinching her waist and completing her outfit.

During her 1983 Royal Tour of Canada, the princess wore a blue Bruce Oldfield dress with ruffled sleeves to a state dinner in New Brunswick. She accessorized with a silver belt and clutch, and completed the look with sparkling Spencer tiara and drop earrings.

Forget traditional necklace rules! In 1985, Princess Diana made a bold fashion statement at the London premiere of Back to the Future by wearing her pearl necklace draped across her back, over her stunning burgundy velvet dress by Catherine Walker.

The royal owned many beautiful suits as well. For example, she wore a classic pinstriped suit to a 1996 Christmas event supporting the charity Centrepoint in London.

In 1985, during a visit to the Isle of Wight, Princess Diana wore a white coat dress by Catherine Walker with a coordinating hat designed by Graham Smith.

Even when dressing casually, Princess Diana always maintained a sense of style. For example, at a 1987 polo match in Windsor with Prince William, she paired denim overalls with a classic white T-shirt.

In 1981, she turned heads wearing yellow overalls and a colorful floral top while strolling with Sarah Ferguson at the Cowdray Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire.

Even princesses appreciate comfortable clothes! In 1995, Princess Diana was photographed leaving her London health club wearing a Fly Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, orange bike shorts, and sneakers. Interestingly, she gave a famously candid interview to BBC’s Panorama later that same day.

Diana often used her clothing to show her support for the charities she cared about. For example, in 1988 at the Guards Polo Club, she wore a sweatshirt with the logo of the British Lung Foundation – an organization she supported – along with a black blazer, jeans, a baseball cap, hoop earrings, and brown boots.

In August 1997, Princess Diana was photographed leaving her London gym looking relaxed and stylish in a Harvard sweatshirt, black Nike bike shorts, and sneakers. Sadly, just weeks later, she died in a car accident in Paris, following years of constant attention from the paparazzi.

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2025-11-25 19:54