BBC admits ‘lapse in standards’ after Harry’s bombshell interview as fury swirls over ‘establishment stitch-up’ claim
THE BBC has admitted a “lapse in standards” over it’s coverage of Prince Harry’s court loss.
The Duke of Sussex lost his appeal against the decision to remove his taxpayer-funded security on Friday.
Following the loss, Harry underwent an astonishing interview with the BBC in which he savaged his family and chillingly suggested it would be the Firm’s fault if anything happened to him or wife Meghan Markle.
In a statement the broadcaster has now said: “The programme covered the latest developments in the story of Prince Harry and his legal case around protection for him and his family in the UK and interviewed former close protection officer Richard Aitch to get a broader understanding of security considerations.
“Claims were repeated that the process had been ‘an establishment stitch-up’ and we failed to properly challenge this and other allegations.
“This case is ultimately the responsibility of the Home Office and we should have reflected their statement: ‘We are pleased that the Court has found in favour of the Government’s position in this case.
“‘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.”
“We also should have given the view of Buckingham Palace: ‘All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.’
“This was a lapse in our usual high editorial standards.”
This comes after Harry said in the interview he still hopes for reconciliation – despite repeatedly attacking the Royal Family.
The prince also admitted that King Charles refuses to speak to him “because of this security stuff”.
In a thoughtless throw away comment, the Duke also said he “doesn’t know how long King Charles has left”.
The dad-of-two then revealed he “can’t see a world” where he would bring his wife and children to the UK due to the security loss.
Despite saying he felt “let down” by his country and blaming the issue on his father – he said he wants reconciliation.
Harry told how he has “forgiven” his family after describing his court loss as a “good old fashioned establishment stitch up”.
After the interview, Buckingham Palace broke its silence with a scathing statement.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”
The Duke of Sussex brought the case against the Home Office and the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
He had moaned he was “singled out” after his round-the-clock royal protection was axed in the wake of Megxit.
Harry also bizarrely claimed stripping him of his security was a plot to force him and Meghan Markle back to Britain.
Earlier this month, Harry returned to the UK for his two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal in London.
But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis ruled against him in a humiliating blow for the prince.
The loss – his second unsuccessful appeal against the decision – could be the final nail in the coffin for his security row, although Harry could still take his fight to the Supreme Court.
It also means he faces paying the legal costs for both sides, which is estimated to amount to more than £1.5million.