PRINCESS DIANA'S brother Earl Spencer could sue the BBC after claims it bid to blame him for providing documents used by Martin Bashir to secure his Panorama interview with her, it's reported.
Bashir, 57, faces questions over claims that he fraudulently obtained theroyal scoop with Diana in 1995.
It's claimed the BBC journalist commissioned a graphic designer to produce two fake bank statements.
Former BBC director-general Tony Hall suggested that Earl Spencer was the source of the original material the statements were based on, The Daily Mail reports.
A source close to the earl said: "It would not be an understatement to say he is furious and is consulting his lawyers."
A friend said: "Why would he even have bank statements belonging to someone else?
'FANTASY LAND'
"There's simply no logic to it! They have entered fantasy land… they had a chance to ask him about this but the BBC never did."
A new Channel 4 documentary about the Panorama interview says Lord Hall wrote to the BBC board of governors suggesting Diana's brother provided the statements used by Bashir used to make the forgeries.
Alan Waller — former head of security for Diana’s brother Earl Spencer — says he is considering making a formal complaint to Scotland Yard against Bashir and the BBC.
Mr Waller is also considering suing Bashir and the BBC over the claims.
It is alleged Bashir ordered a graphic artist to fake bank statements which helped trick Diana into giving him the Panorama interview.
This suggests I unlawfully gave someone's bank details to him. This is a lie
They allegedly falsely suggested Mr Waller got money from newspapers and the security forces for snooping on Di.
Bashir is believed to have used the documents to gain the earl's trust before he introduced the reporter to his sister.
A BBC internal inquiry cleared the broadcaster.
It came after Lord Hall told governors that Bashir went to see Diana's brother and "Earl Spencer…. showed him some documents including this man's bank statement".
But Earl Spencer told the Mail: "This suggests I unlawfully gave someone's bank details to him. This is a lie."
ROYAL ROW
Ex-Paratrooper Mr Waller says Bashir's claims have ruined his life.
Mr Waller told The Daily Telegraph: “Bashir has effectively stolen my identity, stolen my banking information, and used it to frame me as the fall guy.
“I am the one person in all this who can go to the police.”
Lord Hall is expected to take part in a new probe led by a Supreme Court judge.
Bashir, now the Beeb’s religious correspondent, is off sick after getting Covid and having a heart by-pass.
A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC is determined to get to the truth of what happened.
"That's why we have appointed Lord Dyson to lead a fully independent investigation.
"It is vital that everyone with information shares that, so he can investigate thoroughly."
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