Lord Hall, the former director general of the BBC, has resigned as chairman of the National Gallery following the outcry over an inquiry into the Panorama interview with Princess Diana. The inquiry found that reporter Martin Bashir used deception to secure the interview in 1995, and Lord Hall’s 1996 internal probe into the matter was deemed “woefully ineffective”. Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate the BBC for alleged blackmail and fraud. Both Princes William and Harry have expressed their hurt over the interview.
The inquiry by Lord Dyson found that Bashir was unreliable and dishonest, and that the BBC fell short of its standards in responding to questions about the interview. It also revealed that Bashir used faked documents to gain access to Diana, and that the BBC covered up how the interview was secured. The Duke of Cambridge has blamed the BBC for contributing to his mother’s paranoia and damaging his parents’ relationship.
Critics have questioned why Bashir was rehired by the BBC in 2016, when Lord Hall was director general, and later promoted to religion editor. The BBC has defended its decision to rehire Bashir, saying it was after a competitive interview process. The inquiry was commissioned last year after Earl Spencer raised concerns about the tactics used to secure the interview.
Lord Hall apologized for the events 25 years ago and took responsibility for his actions. The National Gallery expressed regret at losing him as chairman. The inquiry concluded that Bashir faked documents, the BBC covered up the methods used to secure the interview, and the internal probe into complaints was ineffective. Princess Diana’s interview was a groundbreaking moment in royal history, where she spoke candidly about her marriage to Prince Charles.
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