The Princes and the Press: Queen, Prince William blast Harry rift claims in BBC doco

The royals have attacked the BBC for airing “overblown claims” about the feud between Prince William and Harry.

The royal family have blasted the BBC for airing “overblown and unfounded claims” about a rift between Prince William and Harry.

The first episode of The Princes And The Press, which aired in the UK on Tuesday, included an interview with author Omid Scobie.

Scobie, a friend of Meghan Markle who co-authored Finding Freedom, claimed that some negative stories about the Sussexes come from other royal households.

The Sussexes and the Cambridges stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2018. Picture: AFP

The first episode, presented by Amol Rajan, explored the relationship of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex with the media.

The royal family have now slammed the BBC for airing the “overblown and unfounded claims.”

Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, representing the households of the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William, issued a joint statement, which was included at the end of the documentary.

Prince William is furious with the BBC. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images

“A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy,” said the joint statement.

“However, too often it is overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources that are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility.”

The BBC has defended its documentary about Prince Harry and William’s relationships with the press.

The BBC said the program was “about how royal journalism is done and features a range of journalists from broadcast and the newspaper industry”.

Originally published as The Princes and the Press: Queen, Prince William blast Harry rift claims in BBC doco