Martin Bashir has insisted he did not “harm” Princess Diana with his deceit.
An investigation by Lord Dyson recently revealed the BBC covered up how Bashir secured an interview with the late royal in 1995, after the journalist showed forged bank statements he commissioned to Diana’s brother Earl Spencer.
The falsified statements purported to show payments into the accounts of members of the royal household and helped Bashir secure his interview with Diana.
However, Bashir insists Diana was happy with the interview, telling The Sunday Times newspaper: “Obviously I regret it, it was wrong. But it had no bearing on anything. It had no bearing on [Diana], it had no bearing on the interview.
“I never wanted to harm Diana in any way and I don’t believe we did.
“Everything we did in terms of the interview was as she wanted, from when she wanted to alert the palace, to when it was broadcast, to its contents … My family and I loved her.”
He also insisted he was not responsible for Diana’s death, saying: “I don’t feel I can be held responsible for many of the other things that were going on in her life, and complex issues surrounding those decisions.
“I can understand the motivation but to channel the tragedy, the difficult relationship between the Royal Family and the media, purely on to my shoulders feels a little unreasonable.
“The suggestion I am singularly responsible I think is unreasonable and unfair.”
He went on to share his fears that the scandal will overshadow the points Diana made in the controversial ‘Panorama’ interview.
He said: “She was a pioneering princess. When you think about her expressions of grief in her marriage, when you think about the admission of psychiatric illness – just extraordinary! And her sons have gone on to champion mental health.
“I don’t understand what the purpose of this is ultimately? OK, maybe you want to destroy me, but outside of this, what’s the point?
“I did something wrong… but for pity’s sake, acknowledge something of the relationship we had and something of what she contributed through that interview.
“One of the saddest things about all of this has been the way the content of what she said has almost been ignored.”