Princess Diana’s private secretary, Patrick Jephson, has won ‘substantial damages’ in an inquiry over her 1995 Panorama interview, according to reports.
BBC bosses have released a statement in which they have apologised ‘unreservedly’ over the way British journalist Martin Bashir ‘obtained’ the bombshell interview.
It reads: “The BBC and Commander Patrick Jephson have reached a settlement following the publication of the Dyson Report.
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“Commander Jephson was the private secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales. The BBC accepts and acknowledges that serious harm was caused to Commander Jephson as a result of the circumstances in which the 1995 interview with Diana, Princess of Wales was obtained, which have become apparent as a result of the Dyson report.
“The BBC apologises unreservedly to Commander Jephson for the harm caused to him and has paid his legal costs. The BBC has also paid Commander Jephson a substantial sum in damages, which he intends to donate in full to British charities nominated by him.”
Following the verdict, the Princesses’ private secretary, Jephson, has shared a statement in which he addresses the ‘relief’ he finally feels.
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It reads: “After more than 25 years, it is a relief finally to reach a conclusion to this painful episode.
“I am grateful to Lord Dyson and the journalists whose tenacity has brought the truth to light, and I now look forward to donating the damages I have been awarded to Ty Hafan, the hospice for children in Wales, in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.”
The Dyson inquiry reportedly uncovered that the BBC ‘fell short of high standards of integrity and transparency’.
In the report, it allegedly states that the journalist was in ‘serious breach’ of the broadcaster’s guidelines, as he reportedly ‘faked bank statements and showed them to Earl Spencer,’ in order to gain access to the Princess of Wales.
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