The BBC has donated a total of £1.42 million to seven charities linked with Princess Diana after its apology over the infamous Panorama interview.
It represents proceeds from the 1995 interview with Diana conducted by then-BBC journalist Martin Bashir, which made global headlines as the Princess of Wales, spoke openly about her marriage to Prince Charles.
She famously told him: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded".
The BBC said the money will be shared equally between Centrepoint, English National Ballet, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, The Leprosy Mission, National Aids Trust, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and The Diana Award.
It follows the 25th anniversary of Diana's death, aged 36, in a Paris car crash on 31 August.
Last year, a report by Lord Dyson concluded the BBC covered up "deceitful behaviour" by Martin, 59, to secure the bombshell interview and led to a call from the Duke of Cambridge for it never to be aired again.
The broadcaster previously issued an apology for the "shocking way" the interview was obtained and has now made the donations.
It said: "The BBC had indicated its intention to donate to charity the sales proceeds derived from the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
"The BBC has now done so. Given the findings of Lord Dyson, we think this is the right and appropriate course of action."
The donations come from the BBC's commercial revenue and not from the licence fee, the corporation said.
In July this year, director-general Tim Davie said: “Now we know about the shocking way that the interview was obtained, I have decided that the BBC will never show the programme again, nor will we license it in whole or part to other broadcasters."
National Aids Trust chief executive Deborah said: “Princess Diana will forever be cherished as our patron who made an enormous contribution to HIV awareness.
"We wouldn't be where we are today without her, and we strive to build on her legacy every day. We will ensure the donation is used to make progress on issues that Princess Diana cared passionately about."
A spokesperson from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said: "Princess Diana was a key supporter of the hospital, which she visited on a number of occasions.
"As a charity, we exist to support the hospital's most urgent needs, and this donation will be hugely beneficial in helping seriously ill children from across the UK who are treated at GOSH."
The Diana Award chairman of trustees Wayne Bulpitt said: "As a charity, we depend on public funds to help us achieve our mission and we are grateful to the BBC for this donation which will go a long way to helping further our work."
A spokesperson for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity said: "Making a difference to the lives of people with cancer is a cause that Diana, Princess of Wales, supported as President of The Royal Marsden, a role which has since been held by HRH The Duke of Cambridge."
READ MORE:
Elton John pays tribute to close friend Princess Diana on 25th anniversary of her death
Adorable way Prince Harry's son Archie honours Princess Diana
From rarely seen childhood snap to her £57m wedding – Diana's extraordinary life in pictures
'Mistakes were made' in the days after Princess Diana's death, says royal expert
'Princess Diana had a lonely and isolated life in the Palace,' says royal expert
Source: Read Full Article
