Prince William made a bold appearance at a royal event on Monday evening, just hours before the airing of a contentious BBC documentary focusing on him and his brother, Prince Harry.
The Duke of Cambridge graced the annual Tusk Conservation Awards at BFI Southbank in London, honoring Africa’s top wildlife protectors by presenting awards to the deserving winners.
His presence coincided with the premiere of “The Princes and the Press,” a two-part documentary hosted by Amol Rajan, delving into the strained relationship between the two brothers following the Sussexes’ decision to step back from their royal duties last year.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams highlighted that the royal family had not been given an opportunity to preview or address any allegations made in the documentary.
Allegedly, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, William, and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, expressed discontent over not being granted early access or a chance to respond to the claims.
Some sources described the documentary as mere gossip, leaving the Queen distressed amidst the ongoing controversy.
In response to media attacks on Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Prince William prohibited royal aides from making negative remarks about the family.
The first episode of BBC’s “The Princes and the Press” series, examining the relationship between William, Harry, and the media, aired on Monday night, sparking frustration within the palace for not allowing proper rebuttal to the program’s assertions.
The initial episode chronicled events from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 to the Sussexes’ wedding in 2018, revealing tensions between the two couples.
William, having witnessed the tumultuous public battles his parents faced in the media, emphasized the importance of unity and discretion within the family.
Refusing to engage in the kind of public feud that plagued his parents, he maintained a strict policy of non-disclosure and refrained from commenting on other royal households.
Despite his differences with the press, William aimed to shield his family from similar turmoil, contrasting with his brother Harry’s more adversarial stance towards the media.
Although there were hopes of reconciliation between the brothers, especially with William’s support, it appeared that Harry struggled to overcome his inner conflicts.
The upcoming second episode of the documentary will explore the period from 2018 to 2021, focusing on the royal tours undertaken by both the Sussexes and the Cambridges.
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and Clarence House expressed disappointment over not being allowed to preview the show, as per BBC guidelines requiring a right of reply for those discussed in such programs.
Earlier this year, Prince William condemned the BBC for its mishandling of Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana.
In a statement released after the first episode of “The Princes and the Press,” the palace emphasized the importance of a responsible and transparent press in upholding democracy.
However, it criticized the dissemination of unsubstantiated claims from anonymous sources as facts, urging for a more discerning approach to news reporting.
