A recent BBC documentary titled “The Princes and the Press” has stirred up a storm of criticism, particularly from royal reporter Richard Kaye.
The documentary, which delves into the rift between Prince William and Prince Harry, has faced backlash for its selective focus on media stories about the two princes, particularly those involving Meghan Markle‘s alleged mistreatment by the press.
In response to the documentary, the palace has taken the rare step of threatening a boycott of future dealings with the national broadcaster.
This move could have significant implications, potentially impacting programs related to next year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The palace officials expressed frustration over the unchecked dissemination of unsubstantiated rumors about the royals and their staff on prime-time TV under the guise of a documentary on the media.
Critics have pointed out that the documentary allowed certain statements to be presented as facts without proper verification.
One courtier close to Prince Charles highlighted the inaccuracies in the program, emphasizing that some claims were simply incorrect but were portrayed as undeniable truths.
The program covered media coverage of the royal brothers from 2012 to 2018, with a particular focus on Meghan Markle and the negative stories surrounding her.
Ahmed Scobie, described as one of Meghan’s mouthpieces, was given ample airtime in the documentary.
He alluded to negative stories about the Duchess being intentionally leaked but refrained from naming the sources responsible for these leaks, instead hinting at involvement from within other royal households or aides.
However, crucial details regarding these damaging stories and their origins were left unaddressed.
One contentious point raised in the documentary was the departure of a Palace PA allegedly due to the Duchess’s behavior.
Critics argued that this narrative showcased bias against Meghan Markle and questioned why such claims were not adequately challenged.
Additionally, Scobie’s own relationship with the Duchess was not probed, raising further concerns about the documentary’s impartiality.
Meghan Markle’s recent apology to the Appeal Court for providing misleading information in her privacy case against the Mail on Sunday was also highlighted.
The absence of this critical context in the BBC documentary was deemed perplexing and inadequate, considering its relevance to the overall narrative presented.
Furthermore, Scobie’s comments on race and the lack of mixed-race reporters covering royal news were left unchallenged in the documentary, despite the presence of journalists with diverse ethnic backgrounds in the industry.
The program’s failure to address the BBC’s own involvement in controversial royal coverage and the notable omission of the Martin Bashir saga raised further questions about its objectivity.
“The Princes and the Press” is a two-part series created by Amol Rajan, exploring the royal family’s interactions with the media.
The documentary focuses on Prince Harry and Prince William, examining their relationships with the press leading up to significant events such as Harry and Meghan’s wedding and subsequent controversies.
The upcoming episodes are expected to delve deeper into the turbulent period for the royals post-2018, including legal battles and the Sussexes’ decision to step back from royal duties.
