Prince Diana’s explosive BBC interview helped the royal family shut down Meghan’s interview with Oprah

Lessons learnt from Princess Diana’s explosive BBC interview helped the Palace shut down Meghan Markle, the new book Endgame claims.

The royal family is “haunted” and doomed to “never forget” Princess Diana, but the lessons learnt from her explosive BBC interview helped the Palace shut down Meghan, an explosive book has detailed.

Omid Scobie’s book, Endgame – released today – says while there is still “hysteria” around the late Princess of Wales, the “royal institution leans into it (only) when convenient”.

“Diana created a visual brand for the family, and when the outside world pictures the Firm, Diana is still present,” Scobie says.

Scobie also reveals how the independent inquiry into the tactics used by the BBC to secure a bombshell 1995 interview with Diana, which found reporter Martin Bashir “deceived” his way to accessing the Princess of Wales, helped the Palace discredit her.

Princess Diana will always “haunt” the royal family, Omid Scobie says. Picture: Getty Images

Scobie says the findings — released in 2021 — were a “golden opportunity” for them to stop the damage from the interview “once and for all” after Diana divulged intimate details of life as a royal and her marriage, including her struggles with postnatal depression, bulimia, and, most shockingly, her husband’s affair with Camilla.

He also says Harry and William’s response to the investigation were noticeably different.

“The Duke of Sussex’s written statement issued from California reminded the public that his mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service,” Scobie says.

“A friend of his (Harry) later told me, the purpose of the duke’s brief and targeted response was to acknowledge the outcome, but protect his mother’s legacy and her words.”

When it came to William’s response, Scobie says he “reinforced the counter narrative that his mother was paranoid” at the time.

“Sources explained he was keen to toe the company line without any concessions to what his mother said during the interview itself,” Scobie says.

“He didn’t remind the public that his mother was candid and truthful, despite Bashir’s dirty work, but, instead maintained the royal version that she was emotionally fragile and thus easily manipulated.”

So when it was Meghan Markle’s turn to give a similar style interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Scobie says the royal institution had “learned its lesson”.

“This time, a campaign was activated before Meghan’s words were even broadcast. And certain aides had just the ammunition that was required,” Scobie says.

Omid Scobie says the report into the BBC interview was a “golden opportunity” for the Palace.

The Princess of Wales and the Queen attend the Opening of parliament in London, November 1982. Picture: Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

Bullying allegations hit the front page of The Times of London five days before the interview aired, with staff members claiming Meghan had “humiliated” staff during her time at Kensington Palace.

The Times report also included a number of other “unrelated claims”, including allegations Meghan ditched a visit to an initiative run by UN women in Fiji because of her reservations about the organisation. Scobie was also attending this trip.

However, a staff member on the tour says that claim was “ridiculous” and that: “We had to end the engagement early because there were security concerns at the market (where engagement was at), which was quickly getting overcrowded. She was pregnant and security pulled the plug.”

At a time when she was about to share her royal experience with the world, Meghan’s new image as a bully was the reputational hit the Palace needed.

Three people connected to those involved in the fiasco told Scobie that it was “intentional to launch it just before her big interview”.

Endgame – Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival.

Author Omid Scobie. Picture: Supplied

“I think some were worried that they would come out looking bad and no one was prepared to let Meghan have the final word,” a former Buckingham Palace staffer says.

“To some, they truly believed Meghan was these things … but to others it was about revenge. It was their way of putting her in her place in the final hour.”

And it worked, Scobie says: “When Meghan spoke about her difficult times working in the institution, media coverage in Britain still focused on the bullying allegations, and some used them to suggest she may have been to blame for the treatment she received.

“Behind the scenes, the Palace made a half-hearted attempt at conducting interviews (only a handful of people were ever approached) and carried out light investigative work,” an ex-staffer said.

Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival by Omid Scobie, published by HQ, is on sale November 29. Available at Booktopia.

Originally published as Prince Diana’s explosive BBC interview helped the royal family shut down Meghan’s interview with Oprah