The Princes and the Press: Royals to boycott BBC over Wills and Harry feud doco

Prince William, the Queen and Prince Charles are taking unprecedented action over a series that features “incendiary” claims.

The Duke of Cambridge, the Queen and Prince Charles are reportedly threatening to boycott the BBC over a two-part documentary about William and Harry’s “tumultuous” relationship.

The Princes and the Press, hosted by anti-monarchist Amol Rajan, is believed to contain “incendiary” claims about the brothers smearing each other in the press.

The first part aired in the UK on Tuesday and covered the princes’ relationship with the media and the years leading up to the engagement and marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace last July. Picture: AFP

The second episode will focus on the birth of Harry’s son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, royal tours by the Sussexes and Cambridges, and the Sussexes’ decision to step down from royal duties.

The Queen and her heirs are together expected to collectively complain to British broadcasting regulator Ofcom for the first time in history, with lawyers braced to launch action after the first part airs in the UK.

Buckingham Palace is also said to be concerned that Amol Rajan, who once called the monarchy “absurd”, was chosen to present the show.

The documentary looks at the fallout from Megxit. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Critics have cited a column Rajan wrote for the Independent in 2012 in which he confessed to “disliking” Prince Philip and “the scientifically illiterate Prince Charles”, adding: “When it comes to our absurd monarchy, journalists are so bamboozled by aristocratic wealth that they can only portray a confected picture to their audience.”

The Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said the choice of Rajan “calls into question the whole business about the BBC and bias. Will it be an honest appraisal? There’s a big question mark over that”.

Buckingham Palace is said to have threatened to refuse to cooperate with the BBC on future projects if they are not given the right to respond to the full documentary.

Despite the palace’s anger, the BBC has stood firm in its decision not to permit the palace or the media to view the documentary in advance.

Originally published as The Princes and the Press: Royals to boycott BBC over Wills and Harry feud doco