Princess Diana’s Regret Before Her Passing

In the days leading up to her tragic death, Princess Diana shared feelings of regret, particularly concerning her two sons.

Close friend Rosa Monckton revealed that Diana expressed sorrow about her decision to participate in the infamous “Panorama” interview. She worried that it may have caused emotional harm to Prince William and Prince Harry.

“She told me she believed she had hurt her sons and regretted doing it,” Monckton, 72, mentioned in a recent article.

This candid confession was reportedly made during a vacation in Greece, just ten days before Diana’s untimely death at age 36 in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997.

The “Panorama” interview aired in 1995, when William was 15 and Harry was only 12. It marked a significant moment for Diana, as she openly discussed her struggles with bulimia, her difficult marriage to Prince Charles, and the isolation she felt within the royal family during that televised sit-down.

The interview garnered millions of viewers worldwide, becoming one of the most notable royal interviews. Yet, in private conversations with Monckton, Diana seemed to focus more on how it might affect her children rather than the public fallout.

Monckton conveyed that Diana felt particularly vulnerable at the time of the interview. Although Diana and Charles had separated in 1992, their divorce wasn’t finalized until 1996.

Monckton described Diana as “frail,” and suggested this vulnerability made her more trusting of journalist Martin Bashir, who orchestrated the interview. Afterward, Diana became more cautious around people, keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself.

A formal investigation, known as the Dyson Report, eventually found that Bashir used deceptive tactics, including forged documents, to gain Diana’s trust. This report, released in May 2021, criticized both Bashir’s actions and the BBC’s failure to investigate the concerns surrounding the interview appropriately.

Diana passed away without knowing the full extent of the manipulation involved, yet both William and Harry have addressed the interview’s impact. William stated that the lies surrounding the interview fueled his mother’s “fear, paranoia, and isolation,” and pointed out that not just Bashir but also BBC leadership failed her.

“She was let down not just by dishonest journalists, but by leaders at the BBC who turned a blind eye instead of asking the hard questions,” he remarked in a video after the Dyson report was made public.

Harry also spoke out, suggesting that the events surrounding the interview played a part in the circumstances leading to Diana’s death. “Our mother died for this, and nothing has changed,” he asserted in a statement in 2021.

“By protecting her legacy, we are protecting everyone and preserving the dignity she lived her life with,” he added. “Let’s remember who she was and what she represented.”

As for Bashir, he later expressed remorse to the royal family regarding his involvement in the interview and subsequent events. He claimed, “I never wanted to harm Princess Diana, and I don’t believe I actually did,” while insisting that all actions taken during the interview were in accordance with her wishes.

Nonetheless, he denied any intention of misleading Diana into participating in that now-infamous sit-down.