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BBC pays damages to former royal nanny over false claims

LONDON (AP) – The BBC on Thursday apologised to former nanny of Princes William and Harry over “false and malicious” claims made against her as part of a journalist’s attempt to obtain an exclusive television interview with Princess Diana.

Alexandra Pettifer, formerly known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, appeared at London’s High Court on Thursday for a public apology from the broadcaster over false claims that she had an affair with Prince Charles while working as his personal assistant in 1995.

Her lawyer told the court the allegations caused “serious personal consequences for all concerned”.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the corporation has agreed to pay “substantial damages” to Pettifer. The broadcaster had “failed to ask the tough questions” about how the Diana interview was obtained, he added.

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise publicly to her, to the Prince of Wales, and to the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived and the subsequent impact on all their lives,” Davie said in a statement.

William and Harry have strongly criticised the BBC for its shortcomings after an investigation found that one of its journalists, Martin Bashir, used deceitful means to secure the explosive Diana interview in 1995.

Pettifer’s lawyer, Louise Prince, said the former nanny hadn’t known the source of the allegations against her over the past 25 years.

But it now appeared likely that the claims arose as part of the BBC’s efforts to procure the Diana interview, Prince said.

Alexandra Pettifer, better known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, a former nanny to Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry, walks outside the High Court, London. PHOTO: AP
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