Royal Nanny Receives 'Substantial' Sum from BBC Over False Allegations to Secure Princess Diana Interview

Mar. 15, 2025

Tiggy Legge-Bourke Prince Harry and Prince Charles.Photo: Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty

The BBC will pay a former royal nanny over journalistMartin Bashir’s “totally unfounded allegations” about her, which were used to secure a1995 interviewwithPrincess Diana.

In a statement read in court, Tiggy’s solicitor Louise Prince said the claims had included “the very serious and totally unfounded allegations that the claimant was having an affair with HRH Prince of Wales, resulting in a pregnancy which was aborted. These allegations were fabricated.”

Prince said the former nanny was “relieved that the BBC accepts that the allegations are completely untrue and without any foundation whatsoever.”

Tiggy Legge-Bourke.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Although the BBC reports that the sum paid to Tiggy was undisclosed,The Timesestimates the damages at £200,000 ($239,200).

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the organization apologized to Tiggy,Prince CharlesPrince WilliamandPrince Harry"for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived and the subsequent impact on all their lives."

“Now we know about the shocking way that the interview was obtained, I have decided that the BBC will never show the program again; nor will we license it in whole or part to other broadcasters,” he added.

Prince Harry, Tiggy Legge-Bourke and Prince William.Mathieu Polak/Sygma/Sygma via Getty

The news comes after Metropolitan Police announced Bashir had “not identified evidence of activity that constituted a criminal offense,” according to theBBC.

Bashirquit his post at the BBCahead of the network’s release of the inquiry report.

Princess Diana during her Panorama interview.PA Images

In May 2021, Bashirgave his first interviewsince the results of the inquiry were released, where he said he was “deeply sorry.”

“I never wanted to harm Diana in any way and I don’t believe we did,” the journalist said in aninterviewwithThe Sunday Times. “Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents.”

“I can’t imagine what their family must feel each day,” he continued in reference to Diana’s sons.

Tiggy Legge-Bourke and Prince Charles.Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty

Tiggy was a guest at Prince Harry andMeghan Markle’s 2018 wedding — and wasnamed a godmotherfor their first child,Archie, after he was born in May 2019 (daughterLilibet Dianawasbornon June 4, 2021).

source: people.com