The first episode of a two-part documentary that examines Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship with the media aired on BBC Two on Monday night.
In a rare move, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace have issued a joint statement denouncing some of the factual inaccuracies in The Princes and the Press documentary.
“A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy. 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,” read the joint statement, which was presented at the end of the show.
Presented by Amol Rajan, the first episode of The Princes and the Press explores the years after the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the media’s positive reaction to the emerging new royals, including the time up until the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Interviews with a number of journalists and commentators about alleged phone hacking and leaks featured in the episode, with some people claiming they received unofficial briefings to inform some stories.
The BBC responded to the royal family’s statement, saying that the programme is “about how royal journalism is done and features a range of journalists from broadcast and the newspaper industry”.