A controversial Princess Diana documentary has been shelved.
According to the Radio Times magazine, the BBC pulled the programme, entitled ‘Reinventing the Royals’, from its new year schedule after lawyers, who represent senior royals including Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, intervened.
The two-part documentary, which was due to air its first part on Sunday (04.01.15) on BBC Two, was reportedly set to claim that "spin" was used to boost Charles and the royal family’s public appeal following the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997, while looking at the tactics used by his former spin doctor Mark Bolland.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The BBC is delaying broadcast of the documentary ‘Reinventing The Royals’, due to be shown on BBC Two on January 4, until later in the New Year while a number of issues including the use of archive footage are resolved."
The publication also believes BBC Two senior executives saw and approved the programme, which was presented by former ‘Panorama’ editor Steve Hewlett.
However, neither Buckingham Palace nor Clarence House were thought to have been involved in the making of the documentary.
James Harding, head of BBC news and current affairs, is said to have made the decision to postpone the programme until later in the new year.
A spokeswoman for Clarence House didn’t comment on whether or not lawyers had been in touch with the BBC, saying: "Scheduling is a matter for the broadcaster."
Princess Diana documentary shelved
