Royal family gets ready to do battle with the BBC

The royal family has lawyers braced to launch action against the BBC over a shocking new documentary that’s about to air.

The royal family has lawyers braced to launch action against the BBC over a shock documentary being shown tonight in the UK.

The Queen has joined with Prince Charles and Prince William to warn the BBC they could end all co-operation with the broadcaster, The Sun reports.

They are set to collectively complain to the UK’s media regulator Ofcom for what is believed to be the first time.

It’s understood the doco will look at William and Harry’s relationship with each other and the press. Picture: AFP

The BBC refused to show the royal family the two-part documentary – called The Princes and The Press – despite requests.

The outlet is also said to have failed to give the royals right of reply, amid claims that the program will allege warring siblings Princes William and Harry instructed courtiers to plant smears against each other in the press.

Senior palace sources say there could be a boycott of the broadcaster imposed by the Queen, Charles and William if the claims are not removed.

The BBC2 program is being presented by the BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan, 38.

The Sun understands that senior royals placed lawyers on alert last night.

A senior royal source said: “Nothing is ruled out.”

Royal lawyers have been placed ‘on alert’ over the new doco. Picture: AFP

Last week The Sun on Sunday revealed senior royals were advised they could sue over their portrayal in The Princes and the Press.

Spokesmen for the Queen, Charles and William, did not want to comment.

The BBC said: “The program is about how royal journalism is done and features a range of journalists.”

TV insiders said BBC guidelines require news and current affairs documentaries to offer rights of reply as appropriate.

A real royal row

The BBC screened wall-to-wall tributes after Prince Philip’s death earlier this year. Picture: Anwar Hussein/Getty

The BBC screened a tribute to the late Prince Philip this year. It also broadcast Earthshot, a five-part series about climate change which was presented by Prince William.

However, just six months ago, William blasted the company for its failings over the Martin Bashir interview with his mother, Princess Diana, while Harry said the results of an independent probe were the “first step towards justice” for their mum.

And in 2007 bosses were forced to apologise to the Queen for “misrepresenting” her in a documentary.

A Palace source told the paper of the new program: “The households are all united in thinking this is not fair.

“No one at the Palace has seen it.”

Sources believe the film will suggest that advisers working for William and Harry “briefed against each other” to the media.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission