The royal family took the unusual step of issuing a joint statement condemning the BBC for giving credence to “overblown and unfounded claims” in a documentary broadcast on Monday night.
The Princes and the Press, the first episode of the two-part series, focused on Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship, and included suggestions from royal sources briefing journalists behind the scenes.
“A free, responsible, and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy,” Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Kensington Palace said in a statement to the BBC, which was shown at the end of the program.
“However, overblown and unfounded claims from anonymous sources are frequently presented as facts, and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credence.”
A lawyer for Meghan responded to reports in 2018 about Meghan’s alleged treatment of palace staff during the program, which was hosted by Amol Rajan.
The Times reported in March that the duchess allegedly fired two personal assistants and “humiliated” employees on multiple occasions, which she denies.
Buckingham Palace has since launched an investigation, and the royal household has enlisted the help of an outside legal team to assist its human resources team in investigating the allegations leveled against the former Suits star.
“Those stories were false,” Jenny Afia of the law firm Schillings told Rajan on the show. It’s simply not true that no one can work for the Duchess of Sussex because she was a difficult and demanding boss who forced everyone to leave.”
Following the broadcast of the show, The Sun reported that William had banned aides from briefing against family members.
After seeing reports during his parents’ divorce, the duke was “clear” that he did not want aides to say anything about the other households, according to the newspaper.
