Sensational false claims in Earl Spencer’s scribbled notes from Bashir meeting
‘Queen eats for comfort, Edward has AIDS, Camilla is depressed, Charles is in love with the Nanny’: How Earl Spencer’s scribbled notes from first meeting between Princess Diana and Martin Bashir became key evidence in Panorama probe
- Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer kept meticulous notes of meeting with Bashir and Diana in 1995
- His dossier includes false claims BBC journalist Martin Bashir allegedly used to land the historic interview
- Lord Dyson published report today, prompting former BBC chairman Lord Hall to apologise for ‘falling short’
A jaw-dropping list of smears and lies allegedly peddled by Martin Bashir to clinch his sensational Princess Diana scoop was recorded by her brother – including the Queen ‘eating for comfort’ and Charles being in love with the family nanny.
Earl Spencer kept meticulous notes of a meeting held on September 19, 1995, when he introduced the BBC man to his sister at her Knightsbridge flat.
His devastating dossier was handed to Lord Dyson for his inquiry into the case, which is set to report at 2pm today. It includes preposterous falsehoods about the royals and senior courtiers that he is said to have used to help land the interview.
Earl Spencer’s records show that Bashir allegedly claimed that Diana’s private letters were being opened, her car tracked and phoned tapped with her bodyguard plotting against her, and close friends were betraying her.
Earl Spencer’s handwritten log of the meeting with Bashir at his sister’s flat in Knightsbridge also includes a note saying: ‘Camilla: depressed, but quiet for time being’.
In an execrable reference to Prince Edward, Spencer recorded Bashir as saying that the Queen’s youngest son was receiving treatment for Aids at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Even the Queen was mentioned. Spencer noted Bashir as saying she was ‘very ill with heart problems’ and that she was a ‘comfort eater’.
Earl Spencer (left) kept detailed notes when he met Martin Bashir (seen right holding a Bafta award for his Diana interview) when he met the BBC journalist with Diana at his sister’s flat
Bashir is accused of effectively grooming the vulnerable princess by playing to her worst fears. Pictured is a still from the 1995 interview
Earl Spencer, whose notes helped sink Martin Bashir, today tweeted a photo of him with his older sister Diana in a poignant tribute ahead of a damning report into the BBC Panorama scandal
From officials bugging Diana’s car to warnings her reputation would be ‘destroyed’: Earl Spencer’s handwritten scraps that could shred Bashir’s career
1: Diana’s ‘scum’ former bodyguard
Bashir’s opening gambit that three MI6 agents had told him Prince Charles’s private secretary Richard Aylard was ‘orchestrating’ things surrounding Diana. This involved Ken Wharfe, Diana’s former bodyguard, described as ‘scum’.
Diana was already paranoid her staff and friends were betraying her and, at the meeting, the broadcaster allegedly brandished bank statements purportedly showing her closest aides were selling her secrets.
2: Charles’ secretary ‘paid by Jonathan Dimbleby’
Aylard, it was claimed, had been paid by the broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby. A decision to reinvent the prince had been taken by aides two years earlier. A year later this allegedly included attacking both Diana and the Spencer family.
3: Charles ‘discussing ”end game”’
The notes, handed to Lord Dyson, include allegations MI6 had recorded Prince Charles and his private secretary planning the ‘end game’ – an extraordinary and false hint the heir to the throne was plotting to ‘destroy’ the Spencers and force them to flee to the US.
Charles Spencer’s detailed notes, from one to five. The manila file contains notes of every meeting he had with Bashir, the logs of phone calls the BBC man made along with the faxes, the letters and even the gushing thank you cards that the reporter sent him
4: Spencers’ reputation ‘would be destroyed’
Spencers’ reputation to be destroyed. In another remark recorded by Earl Spencer, Bashir claimed Prince Charles wanted Spencer’s then wife, Victoria, dead. Diana meanwhile would be forced to move to America — possibly with her brother.
5: Will Carling affair claim
his relates to the stories during 1995 of the close friendship between Diana and the married England rugby captain Will Carling. Spencer notes Bashir’s assertion that the newspaper stories had been ‘fed’ by Carling’s wife Julia.
9: Diana’s car ‘bugged’
This note describes Bashir’s alleged claim that Diana had been bugged by officials
The claim that Diana’s cars and phone lines being bugged and her post intercepted would have increased her worries she was being spied on.
Bashir told Lord Dyson he would not have made these claims at a first meeting, the Telegraph reported.
17: Camilla ‘depressed’
Camilla was allegedly described by Bashir as ‘depressed, but quiet for the time being’. The second line refers to William and Harry’s nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke
In the interview, Diana made her feelings clear on Camilla, famously saying, ‘There are three of us in this marriage.’
Mentioning her could have been an attempt by Bashir to prompt her to speak out.
‘Tiggy’ is a reference to Tiggy Legge-Bourke, William and Harry’s nanny who Charles was accused of having an affair with in claims that were subsequently dismissed.
17b: Philip’s ‘v unpleasant correspondence’
Earl Spencer recorded Bashir as describing ‘very unpleasant correspondence’ allegedly sent by Prince Philip to Diana and Sarah Ferguson
This claims Diana had received ‘v unpleasant correspondence’ from Philip and suggests he was annoyed at her ‘hero status’.
It also references Edwina Mountbatten, the wife of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who was known to have had affairs.
19: Fergie’s business deals in the US
Another reference to Sarah Ferguson, this time describing her trips to the US to try and forge a business career
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996. This note refers to her numerous trips to the US to forge a business career.
It adds that Andrew still ‘look[ed] after her’ following their divorce by supporting her financially.
20: ‘Queen eats for comfort’
This note suggests the Queen was unwell, stating ‘Queen ill: heart’ and adds she ‘eats for comfort’.
BBC’s day of shame: Charles Spencer shares poignant childhood Diana picture before bombshell probe exposes depths of Martin Bashir’s deception to secure Panorama interview – and how ex-corporation chief Lord Hall ‘led cover-up’
By Martin Robinson for MailOnline
Earl Spencer today spoke of the ‘bond’ with his older sister and shared a favourite photo of them together as children on a day of shame for the BBC where they will be lambasted for allowing Martin Bashir to ‘con’ Princess Diana into her bombshell Panorama interview with former director-general Lord Hall accused of ‘leading the cover-up’.
Lord Dyson, the former master of the rolls and head of civil justice, was appointed to look into the circumstances surrounding the explosive 1995 sit-down, which famously featured Diana saying: ‘Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.’
Bashir, who was the BBC News religion editor and announced last week he was leaving on health grounds, is accused of mocking up bank statements allegedly used to gain access to her brother and Diana, and then spinning a slew of lies to hoodwink her into the interview that would hasten the end of her marriage and the removal of her HRH status. One of Diana’s friends claimed today she believes she would still be alive if she hadn’t spoken to Bashir.
Earl Spencer, who has long campaigned for justice for his older sibling, has shared an image of himself and his sister Diana, Princess of Wales as children ahead of the publication of Lord Dyson’s report.
He posted the black and white archive image on Twitter, alongside the poignant words: ‘Some bonds go back a very long way.’ The photograph shows the siblings sat side by side in the summer sun, with a young Charles Spencer wearing trunks and Diana appearing to be in a swimsuit.
A report on the six-month inquiry will be published at 2pm and is expected to reveal that Mr Bashir breached the BBC’s editorial rules and Lord Hall is alleged to have run an internal inquiry later branded a ‘whitewash’ by insiders.
The findings could now pave the way for huge damages claims from BBC and royal staff who lost their positions as a result of the explosive interview, it is claimed, with one source calling the case the corporation’s ‘phone hacking moment’. Lord Hall is said to have been given advanced warning he will be criticised, and is said to be worried he could lose his current job as chairman of the National Gallery in London.
Handwritten notes taken by the Princess of Wales’ brother Earl Spencer during a 90-minute secret meeting with him, Bashir and his sister at a flat in Knightsbridge in 1995 blew open the case. The eight pages from a lined notepad revealed that the BBC reporter made a series of false claims that helped him land the interview of the century where the Princess of Wales opened up on her broken marriage with Charles.
Earl Spencer’s records show that Bashir allegedly claimed that Diana’s private letters were being opened, her car tracked and phoned tapped with her bodyguard plotting against her, and close friends were betraying her.
The notes, handed to Lord Dyson, also contained allegations MI6 had recorded Prince Charles and his private secretary planning the ‘end game’ – an extraordinary and false hint the heir to the throne was plotting to ‘destroy’ the Spencers and force them to flee to the US.
Earl Spencer says that there were 32 jaw-dropping smears peddled by Martin Bashir , but the journalist, who quit the BBC last week, is understood to have denied this to inquiry chief Lord Dyson, and may have argued that some of these claims came from Diana’s mouth.
As Bashir is accused of breaching the BBC’s editorial guidelines at the time, it also emerged:
- Prince William may comment on report’s findings when he has had a chance to read it after its release this afternoon. He previously welcomed the probe;
- A Panorama show initially postponed by Director-General Tim Davie for ‘duty of care’ reasons, will finally air tonight on BBC One at 7pm.
- One of Diana’s closest friends claims she would still be alive today if she had not been ‘conned’ into speaking to Martin Bashir. Simone Simmons says Diana became so paranoid they were on their hands and knees looking for phone tapping devices;
- Judge’s damning verdict ‘will be a true eye-opener. This could be the BBC’s phone hacking moment’, says one source;
- Lord Hall facing questions amid claims he helped cover up the scandal, having led previous internal inquiry that found Bashir was a ‘honest man’;
The BBC’s former director-general, Lord Hall of Birkenhead (left), 70, has been accused of protecting Martin Bashir (right) following his famous 1995 interview
Lord Hall of Birkenhead, 70, was identified in 60 pages of previously secret documents as being a ‘key figure’ who helped protect the BBC journalist following his explosive 1995 interview with the royal.
It came after concerns were raised by three Panorama journalists about Mr Bashir at the time, with friends claiming that the rogue reporter ‘destroyed her psychologically and made her paranoid’.
Simone Simmons , 61, who also gave evidence during the inquiry and was at one meeting, said today: ‘The interview led to her divorce and losing her HRH titles. He destroyed her psychologically and made her paranoid — saying the royals wanted to bump her off and distrust her loyal staff and friends’.
The latest accusation comes as a report, which will be published this afternoon, is understood to have found that Mr Bashir, 58, ’employed deceitful methods’ and ‘breached’ guidelines to secure his famous interview with the royal.
A year after the interview, an internal inquiry led by Lord Hall found that Mr Bashir was an ‘honest man’ and there was ‘no question of Mr Bashir trying to mislead or do anything improper’.
Documents seen by Lord Dyson of minutes taken from meetings of the BBC news and current affairs board after the controversial interview showed three Panorama journalists, who later left the show, raised concerns about Mr Bashir’s conduct.
Lord Hall is also accused of telling graphic designer Matthew Weissler, who helped Mr Bashir create the mocked-up bank statements, that he ‘will not work for the BBC again’.
A BBC source told The Times: ‘What happened at Panorama with Bashir set the culture of the BBC where staff were afraid to raise concerns about wrongdoing.
‘It also set the format for how far you can push it and then cover up to get a scoop.
‘It is not acceptable for a licence fee- funded organisation. The whistleblowers were axed and those who covered up were promoted.’
The six-month inquiry, which was conducted by former judge Lord Dyson, is expected to reveal that Mr Bashir mocked up bank statements that were shown to Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, in order to win the trust of the royal.
The independent report is also expected to condemn senior BBC executives who worked at the corporation at the time over allegations of a cover-up, The Telegraph reports.
Lord Dyson was commissioned last year to examine whether Princess Diana would have given the historic 1995 interview, in which she famously declared ‘there were three of us in this marriage’, had it not been for Mr Bashir’s underhand tactics.
He will this afternoon publish his report into the scandal after broadening his inquiry amid concerns about the journalist’s wider practices.
Then a long-awaited Panorama documentary investigating how Mr Bashir allegedly lied and cheated to land his Diana exclusive will be broadcast this evening.
A source told The Telegraph: ‘It will be a true eye opener. This could be the BBC’s phone hacking moment.’
During the inquiry, notes given to the judge by Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, which were seen by The Telegraph, detailed a conversation between Mr Bashir and Princess Diana prior to the famous interview.
It included a list of allegations made by Mr Bashir that Princess Diana’s phones had been bugged and that she was being followed.
The BBC’s controller of editorial policy in 1995, Richard Ayre, told The Telegraph: ‘The use of deceit in making factual programmes would have been permissible only in the case of investigating serious crime… and where prima facie evidence of the guilt of that person being investigated had already been obtained.
‘Those circumstances clearly don’t apply to an interview with the Princess of Wales.’
Lord Dyson warned he would follow the evidence – even if that meant straying from his brief, it can be revealed. A document seen by the Daily Mail shows he refused to be restricted to a ‘narrow’ investigation.
A second source suggested the eminent former Master of the Rolls had taken an interest in Mr Bashir’s wider career.
After allegedly using dirty tricks to convince Diana to be interviewed for Panorama, the reporter went on to other high-profile scoops including a controversial documentary on Michael Jackson.
The disgraced pop singer later complained he felt tricked by Mr Bashir.
The reporter was accused of telling shocking lies to relatives of those murdered by GP Harold Shipman and peddling damaging ‘untruths’ to Scotland Yard about the Soho bombings case, it was claimed.
Last November the BBC commissioned former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson (pictured) to probe allegations that the corporation covered up the trail of deceit by its reporter
Mr Bashir is accused of using the fake bank statements to gain Earl Spencer’s trust
It is not known whether Lord Dyson has addressed these claims in the report, or drawn any broader conclusions about Mr Bashir’s modus operandi.
But after the BBC commissioned him to probe the circumstances of the Diana interview, the judge vowed not to be constrained by that one episode.
A source close to the inquiry said Lord Dyson had pledged to ‘conduct a fearless investigation’ and was ‘determined to get to the truth’.
They added that he would not adopt a ‘narrow interpretation’ of his terms of reference, which he regarded as just a ‘framework’. Lord Dyson would also pursue evidence ‘covering a wider timeframe’ if he wanted to.
Lord Dyson was commissioned six months ago to examine whether Diana would have given the historic 1995 interview – in which she declared ‘there were three of us in this marriage’, hastening the royal divorce – had it not been for Mr Bashir’s underhand tactics.
Mr Bashir is still the BBC’s religion editor, although he handed in his notice last month after a series of health scares.
The Mail revealed last November how he spun an extraordinary web of deceit to clinch his interview.
He allegedly told a string of lies to gain Diana’s trust, including cruelly playing to her paranoia by pretending he had evidence that her staff were spying on her for newspapers and MI5.
It is claimed the lurid smears included an allegation that Prince Edward was being treated for Aids at a London hospital, that the Queen was a ‘comfort eater’ with ‘heart problems’, and that Prince Charles was ‘in love’ with his children’s nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke and went on a secret holiday with her.
It comes as Princess Diana’s friend Simone Simmons , 61, who also gave evidence during the inquiry, claimed Mr Bashir ‘conned’ the royal into giving the interview.
Ms Simmons told The Sun: ‘Diana was conned into doing the programme, and it wasn’t just forged bank documents.’
She added: ‘He was an out and out b*****d. He destroyed her psychologically and made her paranoid — saying the royals wanted to bump her off and distrust her loyal staff and friends.
‘We nicknamed Martin Bashir the Poison Dwarf. The interview led to her divorce and losing her HRH titles.
‘There is no doubt in my mind that Diana would still be alive today if she hadn’t spoken to Bashir.
‘I hope they throw the book at him. Justice should be done.’
The BBC was last night wracked in turmoil over the Panorama special into Mr Bashir’s Diana interview slated for tonight.
It had ‘bravely’ commissioned veteran investigative reporter John Ware six months ago to probe the scandal – in effect, Panorama investigating itself.
The investigation will tell the ‘inside story’ of how Mr Bashir got his interview.
Titled Princess Diana, Martin Bashir and the BBC, it will look at the BBC’s response after it learned he had faked bank statements and features ‘exclusive interviews and revelations from internal BBC documents’.
Director-general Tim Davie had shelved the programme last Friday, leading to a chorus of condemnation.
Earlier this week, sources then said the programme would be aired the same day as the Dyson report was published.
Yesterday there were frantic meetings involving BBC lawyers. Last night the corporation put out a revision to its schedules, with The One Show taken off air at 7pm to make way for the documentary.
One of Diana’s closest friends Simone Simmons insists she would still be alive today if she hadn’t been ‘conned’ by Martin Bashir into doing bombshell Panorama interview
Diana’s friend Simone Simmons, pictured about to give evidence at the inquest into the deaths of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed in 2004, says Martin Bashir conned her into doing the interview and made her ‘paranoid’
Princess Diana would still be alive today if she hadn’t been ‘conned’ by ‘poison dwarf’ Martin Bashir into doing her life-changing BBC interview, her spiritual healer has claimed.
Simone Simmons, 61, insists Mr Bashir is ‘an out and out b*****d’ and gave evidence to the BBC’s independent inquiry that is expected to damn him and his bosses for breaching editorial guidelines.
She said: ‘There is no doubt in my mind that Diana would still be alive today if she hadn’t spoken to Bashir. I hope they throw the book at him. Justice should be done’.
Ms Simmons says she was with Diana the first time she met the Panorama reporter at Kensington Palace in 1995, and claims his deceit went much further than faking two bank statements to gain her trust.
She claims that Bashir charmed her with a promise the interview was about her charities, but they later called him ‘The Poison Dwarf’ after he asked her about her marriage to Charles.
She told The Sun: ‘I was there the first time Martin Bashir was at Kensington Palace. She had a lot of information on the table about her charities because she was led to believe Martin Bashir was doing an interview about them.
‘She came in very excited and said “Simone, he is going to do a programme about my charities, isn’t that wonderful”. I thought it was brilliant.
‘But as time went on nothing transpired and we all know what happened. He lied to her. He said her home was bugged and phones were tapped.
‘He was an out and out b*****d. He destroyed her psychologically and made her paranoid — saying the royals wanted to bump her off and distrust her loyal staff and friends.
‘We nicknamed Martin Bashir the Poison Dwarf. The interview led to her divorce and losing her HRH titles’.
Simone claimed that Diana was initially ‘in thrall’ of Bashir, asking him if he could help save her relationship with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
But after he allegedly warned her that she was being watched 24/7, followed in her car and had her phones and rooms bugged, she became paranoid.
Ms Simmons said at one point she and Diana were crawling around her flat looking for bugs, and that the Princess of Wales would later speak to BT about checking her phone lines.
