BBC admits ‘lapse’ in editorial standards following Prince Harry bombshell interview
The BBC has admitted a “lapse” in its editorial standards following Prince Harry’s bombshell interview.
The Duke of Sussex sat down with the broadcaster on Friday for a lengthy interview after losing his high-profile court case.
Harry, 40, failed in his appeal against the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office, over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK.
It prompted him to tell the BBC that he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”.
The father-of-two also said: “I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up, and that is what it feels like.”
BBC Radio 4 discussed Harry’s interview the following day and spoke to former close protection officer, Richard Aitch.
The broadcaster was later forced to issue a statement on its “Corrections and Clarifications” page.
The statement 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.”
The Home Office’s statement read: “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.”
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The BBC added: “We also should have given the view of Buckingham Palace.”
The Palace’s statement read: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”
The broadcaster concluded: “This was a lapse in our usual high editorial standards.”