The BBC has found itself in the spotlight once again thanks to claims made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their recent Netflix documentary.
As part of their six-part series titled “Harry & Meghan,” the couple has suggested that their engagement interview with the BBC back in 2017 was anything but spontaneous.
During the documentary’s first three episodes, which premiered recently, Meghan alleged that the interview was “orchestrated” and “rehearsed.”
She went as far as saying, “We weren’t allowed to tell our story because they didn’t want [us to].” However, she left it ambiguous as to whether she was referring to the Royal Family or the BBC itself.
The engagement interview, one of the couple’s first public displays of affection after their engagement announcement, was presided over by renowned journalist Mishal Husain.
With a stellar reputation in the broadcasting world, Husain was quick to respond to the couple’s assertions, along with other BBC journalists who expressed skepticism about their claims.
As Husain co-hosted the BBC’s “Today” program alongside Justin Webb on the day the documentary aired, she couldn’t help but chuckle at the couple’s allegations.
Royal correspondent Jonny Dymond humorously remarked, “Bit of a blow there,” suggesting Husain might be the mastermind behind the so-called orchestrated interview.
Interestingly, Husain recalled her experience with the Sussexes in a different light.
She described the interview as a charming exchange between two people filled with love, rather than a scripted performance.
“That day was full of joy,” Husain remarked, emphasizing the positivity surrounding the event.
In a later appearance on “World at One,” Husain elaborated on how the interview unfolded.
She recounted how she and the team aimed to ensure that Harry and Meghan felt at ease during the engagement announcement.
“The aim was to make sure they were comfortable,” she said, revealing the supportive environment in which the interview took place.
Meanwhile, former BBC director general Lord Tony Hall stepped in to address the allegations directly, calling them “simply untrue.” His remarks added weight to Husain’s claims that the interview was not the manipulated affair portrayed by the couple.
In addition to these responses, Nicholas Witchell, a long-time royal correspondent for the BBC, appeared on “News at Six” to counter Meghan’s portrayal of media hostility directed at her.
He described the notion that anyone aimed to “destroy” her as “absurd,” reinforcing the idea that such claims do not withstand careful scrutiny.
The documentary’s third episode opens with the couple discussing their engagement interview, where Meghan bluntly calls it “an orchestrated reality show.” She explained that the interview felt like a quickly put-together affair, with certain moments pre-planned—specifically, showing off the engagement ring.
When asked to clarify what she meant by “orchestrated,” Meghan added that they were instructed on what topics to cover during the interview, further implying a controlled narrative.
Harry echoed her sentiments, lamenting, “We’ve never been allowed to tell our story.”
In light of the controversy, a BBC spokesperson directed inquiries back to Husain’s previous comments, signaling the organization’s stance.
There seems to be a significant gap between the Sussexes’ portrayal of their experiences with the media and the recollections of those who conducted the interviews.
What’s more, this isn’t the first time the couple has aired grievances about their treatment by the media and the royal institution.
Harry’s frustration with how the media have handled his personal narrative has been well-documented, reflecting a deeper tension that continues to unfold since their departure from royal duties in 2020.
