BBCNEWS — BBC News
20260920 210000 UTC
1073 transcript segments
Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced)
Data courtesy of The GDELT Project (https://www.gdeltproject.org/), from the Internet Archive TV News Archive.
Machine transcription. Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a verbatim quotation record.

[00:00:13] Live from London. This is BBC
[00:00:15] News. Exit polls in two state elections
[00:00:18] elections in Germany show big losses losses for Chancellor Merkel's CDU
[00:00:21] CDU party. He describes the results
[00:00:23] results as a disaster for his party,
[00:00:25] party, with the AfD and Die Linke
[00:00:27] Linke making gains. Earl Spencer Spencer tells the BBC, writing his
[00:00:31] his book about his sister Princess Princess Diana was his duty as an
[00:00:35] an eyewitness to history and defends defends claims he made about the
[00:00:38] the King. I'm reporting every word
[00:00:41] word in this book. I report exactly exactly as I saw it and felt it at
[00:00:45] at the time. And I was surprised
[00:00:48] surprised at the giddiness of his his tone. That's what I'm recording
[00:00:51] recording there. At least two people people are killed in the Moscow region
[00:00:55] region in a massive Ukrainian drone drone attack. Russia says it's an
[00:00:58] an attempt to disrupt the country's country's parliamentary elections.
[00:01:02] elections. Ed Sheeran apologises apologises to fans for what he calls
[00:01:05] calls mistakes as he performs for for the first time since the support
[00:01:08] support act was dropped for making
[00:01:10] making pro-Palestinian remarks on
[00:01:12] on stage. Hello and welcome. I'm
[00:01:22] I'm Samantha Simmonds. The German German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz,
[00:01:25] Merz, says he takes responsibility responsibility for what he's called
[00:01:28] called a disastrous showing for his his party in the latest state elections.
[00:01:32] elections. But he's vowing to stay stay on in the job. Exit polls suggest
[00:01:36] suggest his Christian Democrats have have barely scraped enough votes
[00:01:38] votes to enter parliament in the
[00:01:40] the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in
[00:01:44] in the Berlin local elections, the the CDU secured the second highest
[00:01:48] highest share of the vote. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, the far right AfD saw
[00:01:50] saw significant gains in both polls
[00:01:53] polls and there were huge celebrations celebrations in Berlin as the far
[00:01:56] far left party Die Linke learnt of of the results. Die Linke or in English,
[00:02:00] English, the left was the best performer
[00:02:03] performer with 24.5% of the vote, vote, the first time it has topped
[00:02:06] topped polls in the state. But it it will need partners to take control
[00:02:09] control of the mayor's office. Its Its platform includes wanting to
[00:02:13] to nationalise housing from corporate corporate landlords and capping rents.
[00:02:16] rents. The AfD were also cheering cheering their gains in Berlin, a
[00:02:20] a traditionally liberal city. They
[00:02:23] They hit 16%. In recent years, the the party has gone from being a fringe
[00:02:27] fringe euroskeptic movement to the
[00:02:28] the country's most popular party. party. Here's how the chancellor,
[00:02:32] chancellor, Friedrich Merz, responded
[00:02:34] responded to the results. Haben.
[00:02:37] Haben. Today we witnessed two elections elections with very different outcomes.
[00:02:41] outcomes. We cannot sugarcoat the the result. In Mecklenburg-Western
[00:02:44] Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It It is a disaster. The CDU fought
[00:02:47] fought hard but in the end it was
[00:02:49] was the CDU that got crushed in the
[00:02:52] the polarisation between the SPD SPD and the AfD. Germany is capable
[00:02:56] capable of reform. I would even go
[00:02:58] go so far as to say that these reforms
[00:03:01] reforms are the antidote to the authoritarian authoritarian poison that, together
[00:03:05] together with a fascination for authoritarianism, authoritarianism, is penetrating
[00:03:08] penetrating ever deeper into our
[00:03:10] our society. What must be done now
[00:03:13] now requires backbone, steadfastness steadfastness and patience. I will
[00:03:17] will demonstrate these qualities qualities as chairman of the CDU
[00:03:20] CDU and above all, as chancellor chancellor of our country. Thank
[00:03:23] Thank you. Our correspondent, Jessica Jessica Parker is in Berlin and has
[00:03:27] has been reacting to the latest projected projected results. Yes. So here in
[00:03:31] in Berlin we should emphasise these these are projected results, not
[00:03:33] not final results. I guess you should should call them. Exit polls in the
[00:03:37] the United Kingdom here in Berlin Berlin where I am and I'm at the
[00:03:41] the CDU Friedrich Merz party sort sort of election night gathering. gathering. And I can tell you that
[00:03:45] that when those projections came came up on the screen behind me,
[00:03:47] me, there were no cheers. There's There's been no celebration. People People rallied a little bit as party
[00:03:51] party figures started to come out out and speak, but the atmosphere
[00:03:54] atmosphere was pretty flat initially
[00:03:57] initially because in Berlin it appears
[00:04:00] appears they've come second potentially potentially meaning they could be
[00:04:03] be squeezed out of the inevitable inevitable coalition talks that will
[00:04:06] will follow. Although one CDU lawmaker
[00:04:08] lawmaker I was speaking to insisted insisted they would still try to to see if they could find partners
[00:04:12] partners to form a coalition here
[00:04:15] here in the northeastern state of of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where
[00:04:17] where nobody expected the CDU to to be doing particularly well. They
[00:04:21] They are hovering around or just
[00:04:24] just above the 5% threshold that that you need to be at in order to
[00:04:27] to enter Parliament. If, as the night night goes on, they start to fall
[00:04:31] fall below that because they say say these are initial projections
[00:04:34] projections that would spell potential potential catastrophe for the CDU.
[00:04:37] CDU. A record bad result. So all
[00:04:40] all eyes I think will be on those those figures overnight. But as we've
[00:04:43] we've been hearing and seeing Chancellor Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he's been been under so much pressure over
[00:04:47] over his lack of popularity and his
[00:04:50] his party's falling popularity. He's He's been quick out the blocks tonight
[00:04:53] tonight to say that he's going nowhere. nowhere. Yeah. Give us a bit more
[00:04:56] more detail about what he's been been saying because he has said,
[00:04:59] said, hasn't he? He takes responsibility responsibility for what he's called
[00:05:02] called a disastrous showing in these these latest state elections. But
[00:05:05] But as you say, he is determined determined to stay on. We don't have
[00:05:08] have the full results, as you say, say, just exit polls at the moment.
[00:05:11] moment. How bad would it have to to be, do you think for him to see
[00:05:14] see a challenge? Well, it's a bit
[00:05:20] bit of a mysterious situation in in terms of the rumours that have have been swirling for months about
[00:05:24] about the idea of a Chancellor talk, talk, a Chancellor swap. I've been
[00:05:27] been sort of calling it the coup coup with no name because no challenger
[00:05:30] challenger has actually publicly publicly come out against him. In
[00:05:33] In fact, state premier CDU, state state premiers earlier this week
[00:05:36] week came out with a letter basically basically supporting the Chancellor,
[00:05:40] Chancellor, although some people people felt it was a slightly lukewarm
[00:05:43] lukewarm letter. But there is certainly
[00:05:46] certainly deep concern in the CDU CDU that Chancellor Friedrich Merz
[00:05:50] Merz is personally unpopular, that that he has failed in his stated
[00:05:54] stated mission really to try and and counter the rise of Alternative
[00:05:57] Alternative fur Deutschland. The The anti-immigration, Russia friendly friendly party that continues to
[00:06:01] to gain ground in a appears to have
[00:06:03] have topped the polls in Mecklenburg Mecklenburg Vorpommern in terms of
[00:06:07] of what happens next. Friedrich Merz
[00:06:09] Merz is due to have a series of meetings meetings with party figures, presumably
[00:06:13] presumably to try and shore up support
[00:06:15] support and his remarks. I think think tonight were designed by him
[00:06:19] him to get out there, get his message, message, his narrative across that
[00:06:23] that he believes and he's saying
[00:06:25] saying that he needs time to deliver
[00:06:28] deliver a reform programme that he
[00:06:31] he hopes can revive Germany and get get Germany back on its feet, which
[00:06:34] which might sound a strange thing thing to say about Germany, but Germany
[00:06:37] Germany is in a pretty gloomy mood mood at the moment. Its economy has
[00:06:40] has been stuttering for years. There's There's an insecure world outside.
[00:06:44] outside. People worry about the cost cost of living. The debate around
[00:06:48] around immigration remains extremely extremely fraught, but he's just just trying to make the case. Give
[00:06:52] Give me more time and I'm going to to turn around. This country's fortunes.
[00:06:55] fortunes. The question is, will his his party give him more time? And
[00:06:58] And I think that's something we don't don't really know at the moment. moment. It depends whether anyone
[00:07:02] anyone does come out in the Open Open in the coming days, in the coming
[00:07:05] coming weeks, to pose a challenge challenge to the Chancellor. Jess
[00:07:09] Jess Parker their president Zelensky Zelensky has announced that he's he's to meet Donald Trump in New
[00:07:13] New York. The Ukrainian leader said said there was diplomatic momentum
[00:07:16] momentum towards ending the war. war. His comments came after Moscow
[00:07:19] Moscow suffered what the mayor described described as its biggest ever drone
[00:07:22] drone attack. At least two people people were killed and a major oil
[00:07:26] oil facility was hit. Here's Caroline
[00:07:30] Caroline Hawley. This is the dramatic
[00:07:32] dramatic moment when a drone flies
[00:07:35] flies towards and then strikes a
[00:07:38] a warehouse. And this the moment
[00:07:43] moment an apartment building is hit.
[00:07:45] hit. For Muscovites nearby, another
[00:07:49] another terrifying night with a wave wave of hundreds of drones and some
[00:07:52] some missiles. A message delivered
[00:07:54] delivered to Moscow with fire. This
[00:07:58] This oil refinery, just ten miles
[00:08:00] miles from the Kremlin, is the capital's capital's biggest supplying fuel
[00:08:03] fuel for the city and Ukraine says
[00:08:05] says for the Russian military to.
[00:08:08] to. Ukrainian officials say the aim aim is to bring Vladimir Putin's
[00:08:11] Putin's war home. Moscow's mayor
[00:08:13] mayor has called it an unprecedented
[00:08:15] unprecedented attack aimed at disrupting disrupting voting in parliamentary parliamentary elections, the first
[00:08:19] first to be held since Russia's full-scale
[00:08:21] full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
[00:08:23] in 2022 and always a tightly controlled
[00:08:26] controlled affair. Two people were were killed in this block of flats
[00:08:29] flats on the outskirts of
[00:08:35] Moscow. I just left the building building when the explosion happened. happened. Glass went flying. People
[00:08:38] People started screaming and shouting.
[00:08:41] shouting. Both sides have been hitting hitting each other's infrastructure. infrastructure. There's been a spate
[00:08:45] spate of Russian attacks on Ukrainian Ukrainian petrol stations, frightening
[00:08:49] frightening for anyone filling up.
[00:08:53] up. Of course I'm scared. Everyone's Everyone's scared. We're all human
[00:08:56] human beings. But we have to carry
[00:08:58] carry on living because we have nowhere
[00:09:01] nowhere else to go. Here in the eastern.
[00:09:04] eastern. City of Kramatorsk, a strike strike on a centre housing people
[00:09:08] people evacuated from the front line. line. This is a brutal war being
[00:09:11] being fought on different fronts. fronts. The human cost mounting all
[00:09:15] all the time. Both sides hurting
[00:09:18] hurting near Kyiv this afternoon, afternoon, another warehouse up in
[00:09:21] in flames after a Russian drone strike strike and four and a half years
[00:09:25] years in no end in prospect to any
[00:09:28] any of this Caroline Hawley, BBC
[00:09:30] BBC News. Princess Diana's brother brother Earl Spencer, has told the
[00:09:33] the BBC that he sees echoes of her her treatment by the media in the
[00:09:37] the coverage of the Duke and Duchess Duchess of Sussex. Speaking to Laura
[00:09:41] Laura Kuenssberg, Earl Spencer has has also rejected any perception perception he favours Prince Harry,
[00:09:45] Harry, insisting that he was on the the side of both his nephews. Here's
[00:09:48] Here's our royal senior royal correspondent correspondent Daniela Relph. And
[00:09:51] And just a warning that her report
[00:09:52] report contains some flash photography.
[00:09:56] photography. This is a brother's brother's story. Memories of his
[00:10:00] his childhood. A tribute to his sister
[00:10:02] sister Diana, one that has unsettled
[00:10:04] unsettled the Royal Family. And in
[00:10:06] in his BBC interview, Earl Spencer's
[00:10:08] Spencer's raw emotion showed. How
[00:10:11] How much do you miss her? Well, every
[00:10:16] every day, you know, that's the thing thing with sibling loss you never
[00:10:18] never get over it. In his eulogy
[00:10:24] eulogy to his sister at her funeral,
[00:10:27] funeral, Charles Spencer described described Diana as the most hunted
[00:10:30] hunted person of the modern age. age. And he now sees parallels in
[00:10:34] in the experience of Harry and Meghan. Meghan. He says under the sometimes
[00:10:38] sometimes harsh media spotlight. spotlight. I'm not here to speak
[00:10:41] speak for Harry and Meghan, but for
[00:10:43] for anyone who is being destroyed
[00:10:45] destroyed in this way daily, it must
[00:10:48] must be such a cancerous influence influence in their life. I saw it
[00:10:51] it with Diana, I saw Diana, I mentioned mentioned it in the eulogy, her tears
[00:10:55] tears of despair. One of the problems problems with Diana was she was very,
[00:10:58] very, very sensitive to criticism.
[00:11:00] criticism. And of course, I'm sure sure most of your viewers now think, think, oh, she had this splendid
[00:11:04] splendid life and it was all amazing. amazing. And she didn't. She was was so privileged and so perfect
[00:11:08] perfect in so many ways. But she
[00:11:10] she was really brought low by all all that criticism. And yeah, I suppose
[00:11:14] suppose it's a pity when I see echoes
[00:11:17] echoes of that now. In. By. The King
[00:11:21] King out on royal duty in Scotland Scotland in recent days has faced
[00:11:24] faced harsh criticism in the book book and interview. But Charles Spencer
[00:11:28] Spencer has doubled down on his account
[00:11:31] account of the King's behaviour after
[00:11:33] after the death of Diana. You write
[00:11:36] write that he was giddily elated
[00:11:39] elated like a lottery winner. I mean, mean, you're suggesting he was somehow
[00:11:43] somehow pleased that his former wife
[00:11:45] wife was dead? Well, I'm reporting
[00:11:48] reporting every word in this book. book. I report exactly as I saw it
[00:11:51] it and felt it at the time. And I
[00:11:55] I was surprised at the giddiness giddiness of his tone. That's what
[00:11:58] what I'm recording there. For Princes Princes William and Harry. Their
[00:12:02] Their uncle's story is a painful
[00:12:04] painful reminder filled with bittersweet bittersweet childhood memories and
[00:12:07] and the anguish of their loss from
[00:12:10] from Charles Spencer. This is, he
[00:12:12] he says, the end. This is my swan
[00:12:14] swan song, too. I'm not here to bang
[00:12:17] bang on about Diana. This is my final
[00:12:20] final word. Celebration of her. And
[00:12:23] And I will step off into the sunset
[00:12:25] sunset now and not be available for
[00:12:29] for comment. Well, Jennie Bond, who who was the BBC's royal correspondent
[00:12:32] correspondent at the time of Princess Princess Diana's death, gave her
[00:12:35] her assessment on the claims made made by Earl Spencer. Well, I think
[00:12:39] think as Daniela was saying, we've we've had a number of quotations
[00:12:42] quotations come out which have been been extremely sensational, have
[00:12:45] have drawn this response from the
[00:12:47] the palace. We have a war of words words reminiscent of the war of the
[00:12:51] the Wales's back then. But if you you do watch the full interview as
[00:12:54] as we just have, I also find it very
[00:12:57] very compelling. I've met Earl Spencer,
[00:12:59] Spencer, I've interviewed him. He
[00:13:02] He always exudes charm actually, actually, and a gentleness. And that
[00:13:05] that gentleness came through a confident,
[00:13:08] confident, quiet voice in which he
[00:13:11] he asserts, as Daniel has said, this
[00:13:14] this is his version, his memory, memory, and it's an honest interview.
[00:13:18] interview. I think it's also quite quite cutting in places, you know,
[00:13:21] know, he says. I know a lot of things
[00:13:23] things about the King that I have have not said. This is not a threat.
[00:13:27] threat. He adds, and as Laura says, says, it sounds a bit like a threat,
[00:13:31] threat, but he has a lot of knowledge knowledge and he says he's decided
[00:13:34] decided not to put that in a book book and he's not going to say any
[00:13:37] any more. So it was a most interesting
[00:13:42] interesting interview and compelling compelling and I'm inclined to believe believe him. I think things are said
[00:13:46] said in the heat of the moment, the
[00:13:48] the heat of trauma and shock. And
[00:13:50] And it's possible that Charles did
[00:13:53] did say those words that Diana would would soon be forgotten. And one
[00:13:56] one other thing on that I thought
[00:13:59] thought that Earl Spencer's defence
[00:14:04] defence of that recollection was
[00:14:05] was also very honest. He said that
[00:14:08] that in his eulogy, the reason he
[00:14:10] he said at the end of his eulogy,
[00:14:12] eulogy, Diana, her beauty both inward
[00:14:15] inward and outward, would never be
[00:14:18] be extinguished from our minds. He
[00:14:19] He said. That was a direct rebuttal
[00:14:22] rebuttal to Prince Charles, as he he was then at whom he was looking
[00:14:26] looking from the pulpit. I find that that very interesting. It's also
[00:14:29] also interesting that you said you you do believe him and the words
[00:14:33] words that he said, Prince Charles Charles said to him at the time that
[00:14:36] that we'll forget her soon enough. enough. Did this interview change
[00:14:40] change that perception in your mind? mind? Because there's been lots of
[00:14:44] of people over the last few days
[00:14:47] days commenting on these words that that have been quoted in this book book and saying they actually don't
[00:14:50] don't believe him. But do you seeing seeing him in person, you said he
[00:14:53] he was very calm, very considered, considered, very composed and very very gentle. Did this interview change
[00:14:57] change that in your mind or did you
[00:14:59] you believe it? Anyway? No, I think think it did change it actually.
[00:15:03] actually. When you see the full interview interview because the Charles that
[00:15:05] that I have known over a number of
[00:15:07] of years is not that kind of character. character. Yes, he has a temper.
[00:15:10] temper. And yes, we say things in in the heat of the moment, but he's he's a gentle character. I mean,
[00:15:14] mean, it was quite interesting this this morning listening to Dame Julia
[00:15:17] Julia Cleverdon, who used to head head up one of his charities, and
[00:15:19] and I knew her in those years and and she said she lost her husband
[00:15:22] husband very suddenly two weeks after after Diana. And she had two children children the same age of William
[00:15:26] William and Harry. And when she got got back from the holiday during
[00:15:29] during which her husband had tragically tragically died, her phone, she had
[00:15:33] had three messages from the. From From the Prince as he was then he
[00:15:36] he could not wait to express his
[00:15:38] his grief and compassion for her her loss. So it isn't the character
[00:15:42] character of the man I that I recognise,
[00:15:45] recognise, but who knows what was was said in a conversation between
[00:15:48] between two men in the trauma and
[00:15:50] and shock of the most famous woman woman in the world suddenly being
[00:15:53] being killed in a car crash in Paris. Paris. And Jenny. What's your assessment
[00:15:57] assessment of why he has written written this book now his justification
[00:16:00] justification saying he wants to to put it on record that he's a historian.
[00:16:03] historian. He wants to put the truth truth out there. But nearly 30 years
[00:16:07] years after Princess Diana's death, death, many critics are saying, why
[00:16:10] why are you raking this up? It's It's so painful, not least for her
[00:16:14] her children Princes William and and Harry. But he's saying no. He
[00:16:17] He wants to make sure that it is is there on record. What do you make
[00:16:20] make of that? I don't know his motivation.
[00:16:23] motivation. We can choose to believe believe that it's because he's in
[00:16:26] in his 60s and he feels that mortality
[00:16:29] mortality is around the corner and and he wants to put this down. I
[00:16:33] I do think that raking up the past past in this way is not helpful or
[00:16:36] or kind to William and Harry. But But interestingly, in the interview interview he says that this will
[00:16:40] will not have come as a surprise surprise to William and Harry. And
[00:16:43] And when we were told that they only only knew that the book was being
[00:16:46] being published, not its content. content. Now what he said seemed seemed to be rather different to
[00:16:49] to that. He insists it's not about
[00:16:52] about money. I do think that if it's
[00:16:54] it's not about money. Fair enough. enough. Well then perhaps donate
[00:16:58] donate all of the profits to the
[00:17:00] the Diana Award. The. The charity
[00:17:03] charity in her name that would please please his late sister. Jennie Bond
[00:17:06] Bond there. Well, you can watch the the full interview with Earl Spencer
[00:17:09] Spencer a little later in the programme
[00:17:12] programme at 2230 BST here on the
[00:17:14] the BBC News Channel. Scotland's Scotland's efforts to tackle its
[00:17:17] its drug deaths crisis are being being challenged by a growing influx
[00:17:21] influx of powerful synthetic drugs. drugs. Experts warn new synthetic
[00:17:25] synthetic opioids are becoming increasingly increasingly widespread, raising raising concerns that the number
[00:17:28] number of drug related deaths could could rise when the latest figures
[00:17:32] figures are published this week. week. Here's our Scotland editor,
[00:17:36] editor, James Cook. This spotless spotless laboratory in Dundee seems
[00:17:39] seems a world away from the chaotic chaotic reality of illegal drug use.
[00:17:43] use. But scientists here are racing racing against the deadly and evolving
[00:17:47] evolving threat. They're examining examining samples of seized drugs
[00:17:51] drugs to find out exactly what's what's in them. And the answers are
[00:17:54] are worrying. With new substances substances emerging all the time.
[00:17:58] time. In terms of Europe, we are are seeing roughly about a drug entering
[00:18:01] entering into Europe context within within kind of every 1 to 2 weeks.
[00:18:05] weeks. Something new will arrive. arrive. I mean, it's pretty rapid rapid for us to be able to keep up
[00:18:08] up as scientists. And that must be be dangerous. Yeah, these drugs are are extremely dangerous. The illicit
[00:18:12] illicit drug supply in Scotland is is getting more and more dangerous
[00:18:15] dangerous as time goes on. They're They're particularly worried about
[00:18:19] about synthetic opioids called nitazenes, nitazenes, often hundreds of times
[00:18:23] times more potent than heroin. Criminals Criminals are mixing them with all
[00:18:26] all sorts of other substances, from
[00:18:28] from Valium style pills to powdered
[00:18:31] powdered cocaine. Last year, Police
[00:18:35] Police Scotland seized £80 million million worth of street drugs. This
[00:18:39] This year the figure has already
[00:18:42] already reached 78 million and we we can reveal detectives have raided
[00:18:46] raided suspected nitazenes labs in in Ayrshire and Midlothian, arresting
[00:18:50] arresting five people. This is not
[00:18:52] not just an urban problem. The rapidly
[00:18:55] rapidly changing nature of the drug drug supply is hitting rural Scotland
[00:18:59] Scotland too. We've come to the Kintyre Kintyre peninsula on the far west
[00:19:02] west of the mainland, to hear more
[00:19:05] more about what is a struggle to
[00:19:07] to save lives. There are all sorts
[00:19:10] sorts of ways to do that. This group group tries to treat trauma by helping
[00:19:13] helping former drug users reconnect reconnect with nature. But the staff
[00:19:17] staff say their job has been made made harder by the rapidly evolving
[00:19:20] evolving nature of drug supplies. supplies. Some of these substances
[00:19:24] substances are so potent that a grain grain would be enough to take somebody
[00:19:27] somebody over. And to kill them. them. And to possibly kill them.
[00:19:31] them. So this is a frightening new new landscape, really. It really
[00:19:33] really is. I mean, I think I mean,
[00:19:36] mean, it's not something I normally normally find myself saying, but but I don't think drugs have ever
[00:19:39] ever been as risky or as dangerous dangerous as they are now. People People just never know quite what
[00:19:43] what they're getting any more. And And it's a terrible thing to say, say, but with heroin it was better
[00:19:46] better the devil you knew. Quite Quite a statement and a reminder
[00:19:50] reminder of the scale of this crisis. crisis. We just want to think about
[00:19:53] about all those that we've lost through
[00:19:56] through substance use. So many lives
[00:19:58] lives lost. So much still to do to
[00:20:01] to save others. James Cook, BBC News,
[00:20:05] News, Kintyre. Thousands of people people in Spain have marched through
[00:20:09] through the streets of Barcelona Barcelona in protest against plans
[00:20:11] plans to expand the city's airport. airport. Earlier this week, the government
[00:20:15] government allocated more than $2 $2 billion to revamp the airport.
[00:20:18] airport. Among the proposed changes changes is an extension of one of
[00:20:21] of the runways to accommodate more more long haul flights. Demonstrators
[00:20:25] Demonstrators are concerned about about the environmental impact as
[00:20:27] as well as a rise in visitor numbers
[00:20:29] numbers over tourism has been a growing growing issue in the city and Spain
[00:20:33] Spain more widely, with frequent
[00:20:36] frequent local protests. Ed Sheeran
[00:20:38] Sheeran has apologised on stage to to fans in Philadelphia and admitted
[00:20:42] admitted he made mistakes following following the controversy over his
[00:20:45] his world tour. The singer has been been dealing with the fallout after
[00:20:48] after his support act. American rapper rapper Macklemore was removed from
[00:20:51] from the line-up after making pro-Palestinian pro-Palestinian remarks on stage.
[00:20:54] stage. The other support acts then then dropped out. Ed Sheeran said
[00:20:58] said he questioned whether he wanted wanted to be an artist at all after
[00:21:01] after what happened. Carl Nasman
[00:21:03] Nasman reports. These songs are about
[00:21:07] about love, hope and unity. Ed Sheeran
[00:21:10] Sheeran is used to having the spotlight spotlight on his music. This is not
[00:21:14] not usually how I would open the the show. Taking the stage in Philadelphia,
[00:21:17] Philadelphia, the megastar apologised apologised directly to his fans for
[00:21:20] for the recent controversy surrounding surrounding his tour. This week.
[00:21:23] week. The criticism was about something something much more important and
[00:21:26] and I've had to take and make difficult
[00:21:29] difficult decisions and I am making
[00:21:31] making mistakes and I'm so, so sorry.
[00:21:33] sorry. He also clarified where he he stands on the situation in Gaza.
[00:21:37] Gaza. What happened in Israel and and at the Nova Music Festival on
[00:21:41] on October 7th was horrific and compounded
[00:21:44] compounded centuries of Jewish pain.
[00:21:46] pain. What is happening in Gaza is
[00:21:49] is a catastrophic and unjustifiable unjustifiable and disproportionate.
[00:21:52] disproportionate. My heart has been been broken by the scale of devastation
[00:21:55] devastation and loss of civilians
[00:21:58] civilians lives, of children's lives lives and the systemic injustice
[00:22:02] injustice we're seeing unfold in
[00:22:03] in the West Bank cannot be
[00:22:07] overlooked. Sheeran told the crowd crowd he wasn't quite sure how the
[00:22:09] the night would go. I didn't know
[00:22:13] know whether I'd be safe or you'd you'd be safe or. Moments later,
[00:22:16] later, the singer broke down on stage.
[00:22:19] stage. I'm so grateful. Sheeran also
[00:22:28] also addressed the musicians not not in the room, his backing band
[00:22:31] band and tour mates left in solidarity solidarity after the rapper Macklemore
[00:22:34] Macklemore was dropped over his pro-Palestinian
[00:22:37] pro-Palestinian views. He said he
[00:22:39] he was deeply worried about venues
[00:22:41] venues pre-approving content or performers. performers. This happens in so many
[00:22:44] many places that I perform around around the world, but it should never
[00:22:47] never happen in the free world. I
[00:22:49] I was in some of the front rows inside inside that stadium as Ed Sheeran
[00:22:52] Sheeran made that speech, and this this was clearly an emotional moment
[00:22:55] moment for him. He said he was worried
[00:22:57] worried about how he might be perceived. He stayed neutral and
[00:23:00] and I think he covered both sides sides nicely. I think everyone was
[00:23:02] was happy. To see what was inside inside of his heart just made it
[00:23:06] it even better. Sheeran is an artist
[00:23:07] artist who likes to stay out of politics,
[00:23:10] politics, but that has become increasingly increasingly difficult. Before the
[00:23:13] the concert, dozens of pro-Palestinian pro-Palestinian protesters near the
[00:23:17] the stadium only added to the pressure. pressure. Concerts have always been
[00:23:20] been a safe space. Sheeran said that that he wants his concerts to be
[00:23:23] be a place where everyone is welcome,
[00:23:26] welcome, and he likely hopes now
[00:23:27] now the focus can return to his music.
[00:23:31] music. Carl Nasman, BBC News. Now Now we've all heard of mother and
[00:23:35] and baby groups, but one new father father noticed there was far less
[00:23:38] less support available for dads, dads, so he decided to do something
[00:23:41] something about it. His Good Dads Dads Club gives fathers a place to
[00:23:45] to share the highs and lows of parenthood,
[00:23:47] parenthood, and it's grown to more more than 400 members. Our reporter
[00:23:50] reporter Robbie West has the story. story. Oh yeah, 100%. Pushing prams
[00:23:53] prams and putting the world to rights. rights. This is a group for dads
[00:23:57] dads to get together and have a walk walk and a talk. Even if some of
[00:24:00] of the kids they bring aren't as
[00:24:03] as chatty. Your wife? Know Luke is
[00:24:08] is one of the 40 men that's come come to the first meet up of the
[00:24:11] the Chelmsford Good Dads group. It's It's fantastic because it's giving giving dads an opportunity to connect
[00:24:15] connect with other dads. I remember, remember, you know, when we had a
[00:24:18] a bit of a tough time in the hospital hospital with the baby, there was
[00:24:21] was no real support network there there at the hospital or anything anything like that for so many to
[00:24:24] to turn out. It's fantastic. I mean, mean, I've even met one of the dads dads I've not seen for 17 years since
[00:24:28] since I was at school with him. So So you're getting to connect with with other dads and just have a chat.
[00:24:32] chat. And it's genuinely really quite quite a relieving feeling. The group
[00:24:36] group was started by a new dad looking looking for people going through
[00:24:39] through the same situation as him. him. There's so many good mums groups
[00:24:43] groups around. My wife threw herself herself into loads of them, but I
[00:24:46] I couldn't find anything for dads dads so I decided to start my own.
[00:24:49] own. You know, they've given amazing amazing advice. They've been through through exactly the same thing and
[00:24:52] and that's what it's about. We're We're not relying on AI or Google. Google. We're actually dads who have
[00:24:56] have been through it and are willing willing to share their experiences experiences and help other dads.
[00:24:59] dads. So it really is a great support support network. I've become a dad
[00:25:03] dad because of the dads in the group, group, and I hope that's the case
[00:25:06] case for a lot of other dads as well. well. It has amazing feedback from
[00:25:09] from everyone. It's been really, really, really, really. I'm just
[00:25:12] just so proud. It makes me choke choke you thinking about it. But
[00:25:15] But yeah, it it's just fantastic. fantastic. Members say it's not just
[00:25:19] just about getting them out of the the house. It's also about letting
[00:25:22] letting mums have some time to themselves. themselves. If you're a dad looking
[00:25:25] looking to meet new dads and you
[00:25:27] you want to get out and like talk talk about things and how you're
[00:25:30] you're feeling or whatever. Join Join Good Dads Club. It's just it's it's the best. I think we're going
[00:25:34] going to be on TV. Oh yeah. This
[00:25:37] This is a walk that isn't just about about getting from A to B, this is
[00:25:41] is a chance for dads to check in
[00:25:42] in on each other during a time that
[00:25:45] that can be particularly challenging.
[00:25:47] challenging. Robbie West, BBC News.
[00:25:51] News. That's it from me. Coming up
[00:25:52] up next we'll have Laura Kuenssberg
[00:25:56] Kuenssberg interview with Earl Spencer. Spencer. Do stay with us. Thanks
[00:25:58] Thanks for watching.
[00:27:35] of the week.
[00:29:55] means for you. Go online at bbc.com/business bbc.com/business to get the latest latest news wherever you are. Business
[00:29:59] Business on BBC News. Make the connection.
[00:30:06] connection. MUSIC
[00:30:16] She was the most famous woman
[00:30:19] in the world. And I can't go wrong.
[00:30:23] wrong. He's there with me. Married
[00:30:26] Married into the monarchy. Destined
[00:30:28] Destined to be queen. Her campaigning,
[00:30:31] campaigning, her chosen causes broke broke convention and touched millions
[00:30:35] millions of lives. There are many many trying to highlight a problem
[00:30:39] problem that's going on all around around the world. That's all. But
[00:30:43] But that. Fairytale became a nightmare.
[00:30:47] nightmare. Private unhappiness couldn't couldn't be hidden from the public
[00:30:50] public glare. Delight in her beloved
[00:30:53] beloved boys. One a future King came
[00:30:56] came with constant pursuit by the
[00:30:59] the press, admired and attacked on on a scale few public figures have
[00:31:03] have ever known. Diana was a phenomenon.
[00:31:16] phenomenon. Diana, Princess of Wales, Wales, has died after a car crash
[00:31:19] crash in Paris. But her extraordinary
[00:31:22] extraordinary life cut short her
[00:31:25] her death at 36 shocked the world.
[00:31:27] world. Her funeral stopped a nation.
[00:31:30] nation. It was her brother Charles Charles who spoke for her on that
[00:31:34] that day. I don't think she ever ever understood why her genuinely
[00:31:37] genuinely good intentions were sneered sneered at by the media, why there
[00:31:40] there appeared to be a permanent permanent quest on their behalf to
[00:31:43] to bring her down with an attack
[00:31:45] attack on those he says hunted and
[00:31:47] and harmed her and the palace establishment
[00:31:49] establishment that failed to protect. protect. The most modern of women.
[00:31:52] women. On a progress across Britain
[00:31:54] Britain with almost mediaeval overtones.
[00:32:03] overtones. It's only now Charles Charles Spencer is revealing his
[00:32:07] his full story, the tale of the woman
[00:32:09] woman he believes the world never
[00:32:12] never understood. Her former husband,
[00:32:16] husband, now on the throne. God Save
[00:32:18] Save the King. Receive the royal
[00:32:21] royal sceptre. His beloved sons are
[00:32:24] are bitterly split. A woman who will
[00:32:27] will always hold a place in all our
[00:32:31] our history. It's a silhouette of
[00:32:41] of Diana and a quote from something something she said just before she
[00:32:44] she died. People come from all over
[00:32:47] over the world. You know, it's astonishing astonishing to come and pay tribute
[00:32:50] tribute to Diana. There is this extraordinary
[00:32:55] extraordinary legacy that goes on on nearly 30 years on with people
[00:32:57] people feel this profound contact contact with her. And it's yeah,
[00:33:01] yeah, it's very humbling. These are are the grounds where Princess Diana
[00:33:05] Diana used to walk and play. This
[00:33:08] This is Althorp, the Spencer family's
[00:33:10] family's ancestral home. The quiet
[00:33:13] quiet place where now she is laid
[00:33:15] laid to rest. There was controversy
[00:33:18] controversy in her life. There was
[00:33:20] was controversy in her death. Her
[00:33:22] Her unhappiness with the man. Now
[00:33:25] Now King, her fame, her legacy still
[00:33:27] still bitterly argued over just as
[00:33:31] as disputes rage between the two
[00:33:33] two sons she left behind. You dedicate
[00:33:38] dedicate this book to everyone who, who, like you, has lost a brother
[00:33:42] brother or a sister. The difference difference for you is everyone knows
[00:33:45] knows how your sister died, but you've you've never really talked about
[00:33:49] about those awful errors. When the the news came through, when the horror
[00:33:52] horror of what happened became clear. clear. So let's go back in time.
[00:33:56] time. How did you find out? Well, Well, I was living in South Africa Africa at the time in Cape Town,
[00:34:00] Town, and I got a call in the middle
[00:34:01] middle of the night and it was my
[00:34:04] my sister Jane, and she said, don't don't worry, Diana's been in a car
[00:34:08] car crash, but it's not too serious.
[00:34:11] serious. And I thought, OK, well well even if it's not serious, I I can probably find out what's happening
[00:34:15] happening on the news. And then I
[00:34:16] I through the night I watched the
[00:34:19] the TV news unfurling and then I
[00:34:21] I kept getting more and more distressing
[00:34:23] distressing calls from home, from
[00:34:25] from my sister. And then it escalated
[00:34:28] escalated after a few hours to I I heard my brother in law in the
[00:34:31] the background who Robert Fellows Fellows used to work for the Queen Queen as her private secretary. And
[00:34:35] And I heard him go, oh, no! And then
[00:34:40] then my sister Jane said, I'm afraid
[00:34:42] afraid she's died. So that's how
[00:34:44] how it started in my life. In that
[00:34:46] that night as a little prang. And
[00:34:49] And then it became a broken leg,
[00:34:52] leg, perhaps a head injury and then
[00:34:55] then death. And in your book, you
[00:34:58] you recount how your little girl
[00:35:01] girl Eliza said, she's not dead in in real life, is she? Yeah. It was
[00:35:05] was really heartbreaking. I was alone alone in the house with my four children
[00:35:08] children who were very small at the the time, and my three little girls
[00:35:11] girls came tumbling through into into the kitchen, and Diana had just
[00:35:14] just been staying with us a few months months earlier in Cape Town. So when
[00:35:17] when I said, I'm afraid I got this this terrible news and they just
[00:35:20] just looked up at me and I said, said, yes, I'm afraid Aunt Diana's
[00:35:23] Diana's died. And that's what Eliza
[00:35:25] Eliza said. Not in real life, daddy. daddy. Utterly heartbreaking. But
[00:35:29] But as you were making preparations preparations to get back here to
[00:35:32] to the family ancestral home Althorp
[00:35:35] Althorp you had another call, a call call from Prince Charles. Of course.
[00:35:39] course. Now the King. What did he
[00:35:41] he say and how did he sound? Well,
[00:35:44] Well, I was rushing around the house house preparing the children and
[00:35:47] and all of that sort of thing for
[00:35:49] for the day ahead. And I remember remember picking up the telephone.
[00:35:52] telephone. I was upstairs in my house
[00:35:54] house in Cape Town, and he was telling
[00:35:57] telling me how he had told the boys, boys, William and Harry at Balmoral
[00:36:00] Balmoral and broken the news to them.
[00:36:03] them. And I. I felt, as I say in in the book actually I felt there
[00:36:07] there was a sort of giddy tone. I'd
[00:36:09] I'd had a lot of calls that day from
[00:36:11] from people who cared, who were stunned
[00:36:14] stunned like we all were. And I just
[00:36:17] just felt there was a lightness in in his tone about Diana's death that
[00:36:20] that really jarred with me. You write
[00:36:23] write that he was giddily elated
[00:36:26] elated like a lottery winner. I mean, mean, you're suggesting he was somehow
[00:36:30] somehow pleased that his former wife
[00:36:33] wife was dead? I well, I'm reporting
[00:36:37] reporting every word in this book. book. I report exactly as I saw it
[00:36:40] it and felt it at the time. And I
[00:36:44] I was surprised at the giddiness giddiness of his tone. That's what
[00:36:48] what I'm recording there. It's an
[00:36:50] an incredibly damning thing to say, say, though, about his reaction to
[00:36:54] to the death of the mother of his his children. And you go on to write,
[00:36:58] write, I suspect the prince's reaction reaction must have been to think
[00:37:01] think more of how this event might might free him to marry the woman
[00:37:05] woman he loved, rather than appreciating appreciating the loss of the one
[00:37:08] one he did not. You're suggesting suggesting there in black and white
[00:37:12] white that the now King felt that
[00:37:16] that Diana's death was rather convenient
[00:37:18] convenient because he would be able able to marry Camilla. That is how
[00:37:21] how I felt at the time. From the
[00:37:24] the tone of his voice. So I've only only ever had two calls from him
[00:37:28] him and they were both around this this time. One was on the day of
[00:37:31] of Diana's death and one was a couple couple of days later. But are you
[00:37:35] you sure that's what he was thinking? thinking? I mean, she cannot. Be
[00:37:38] Be sure. As I'm saying, that's what
[00:37:40] what I assume from the tone is a
[00:37:43] a possibility and that's all I can
[00:37:44] can do. As you mentioned, there was
[00:37:48] was then a second call, another phone
[00:37:51] phone call between you and the former former Prince Charles as you were
[00:37:54] were planning Diana's funeral. Now Now we know there were huge ructions
[00:37:58] ructions behind the scene at that that time of massive grief. What
[00:38:02] What kind of event should it be? be? Who should be in charge? And
[00:38:05] And there was an instruction from from the palace that her two beloved
[00:38:09] beloved boys should walk behind the
[00:38:11] the coffin through the streets of
[00:38:13] of London. You tried to stop that
[00:38:16] that happening, but what happened happened in that conversation with
[00:38:20] with Charles? I was having a phone
[00:38:23] phone conversation with a colonel colonel from the household at Buckingham
[00:38:26] Buckingham Palace. And as he was was about to finish our conversation,
[00:38:29] conversation, he said. And it's been
[00:38:32] been agreed that the two young princes princes will walk behind their mother's
[00:38:35] mother's coffin. And I said, well, well, of course that's not going
[00:38:37] going to happen. It just seemed so
[00:38:39] so monstrous. And he said, well, well, it's been decided it will.
[00:38:43] will. And I said, but my sister wouldn't
[00:38:44] wouldn't have wanted that. And he
[00:38:47] he sort of coughed politely and the the conversation came to an end.
[00:38:50] end. And then quite soon after that,
[00:38:53] that, a sort of dedicated phone line
[00:38:54] line in my office went again. And
[00:38:57] And it was the then Prince of Wales Wales saying, I gather you've got
[00:39:00] got a problem with the funeral service. service. And I was thinking, no,
[00:39:04] no, I haven't, because I was thinking thinking of the structure of the
[00:39:07] the actual service in Westminster
[00:39:09] Westminster Abbey. And then he said, said, but I gather you don't think
[00:39:13] think William and Harry should walk walk behind Diana's coffin? And I
[00:39:15] I said, well, of course not, sir.
[00:39:17] sir. She wouldn't want it. And then
[00:39:20] then he said, well, I walk behind behind Lord Mountbatten's coffin.
[00:39:23] coffin. And I said, yes, but you you were 30 and he wasn't your mother.
[00:39:26] mother. And then to be I mean, he
[00:39:29] he went ballistic would be the right right term and started really going
[00:39:33] going for my family as a whole about about their sense of duty not being
[00:39:37] being adequate enough and ranted
[00:39:40] ranted for a while. I have no idea idea how long, but it was a significant
[00:39:43] significant period and I just listened. listened. And then he stopped and
[00:39:46] and I thought, oh, now now he's going going to pull himself together and
[00:39:49] and say something more appropriate.
[00:39:51] appropriate. And then he said, we'll
[00:39:53] we'll forget her soon enough. What
[00:39:59] What went through your mind? Well. I'm not sure I can say exactly exactly what went through my mind,
[00:40:03] mind, but I really was so stunned.
[00:40:05] stunned. And I just after a stunned
[00:40:08] stunned silence, I said, I cannot cannot believe you just said that.
[00:40:10] that. And I hung up on him. You know
[00:40:16] know that. Buckingham Palace has
[00:40:20] has already said with a degree of
[00:40:23] of fury. That that didn't happen.
[00:40:26] happen. I just haven't. Actually, Actually, Laura, they've sort of of smudged that one haven't they?
[00:40:30] they? They've said that recollections recollections may vary. Well, let
[00:40:33] let me read you exactly what the
[00:40:35] the palace has said. They've said
[00:40:39] said His Majesty is mindful that
[00:40:41] that the pain of fraternal grief
[00:40:44] grief can cloud reason affect judgement
[00:40:47] judgement and colour memory in ways
[00:40:50] ways others do not recognise. Even
[00:40:53] Even many years after such a loss.
[00:40:56] loss. The King is plainly furious.
[00:40:59] furious. Buckingham Palace almost almost never issues any kind of statement.
[00:41:02] statement. Well, is he. Furious or or is he embarrassed? Because I can
[00:41:05] can tell you here and now those are are exactly the words he said. I've
[00:41:08] I've only ever had two calls on the the line with Prince Charles at any
[00:41:12] any stage of my life. I was hyper hyper alert to what he was saying,
[00:41:15] saying, and those are precisely the the words he said. And I promised
[00:41:18] promised that to you. Now, genuinely, genuinely, that is what he said.
[00:41:21] said. I don't hear him saying he
[00:41:24] he didn't say that. Did you write
[00:41:28] write it down? Did you keep a diary? diary? Do you have evidence that
[00:41:32] that that is what he said at the the time? Because to be fair, this
[00:41:35] this was a time of massive shock
[00:41:37] shock and emotion for both of you.
[00:41:41] you. I told friends and family straight straight away close friends and family
[00:41:44] family about what had been said because because it was so monstrous. And
[00:41:48] And then beyond that it very much much informed. This was just before
[00:41:52] before I really tackled the eulogy.
[00:41:53] eulogy. You can see evidence of that
[00:41:57] that conversation in the final eulogy.
[00:41:59] eulogy. I really stress Diana's sense sense of duty. Duty comes across
[00:42:03] across very clearly in the eulogy, eulogy, and then it culminates in
[00:42:06] in something which I think really
[00:42:08] really underlines the truth of my my assertion here can I? Which is
[00:42:12] is if you get to the final bit of
[00:42:14] of my eulogy, it is, you know that
[00:42:19] that her fantastic qualities will will never be extinguished from our
[00:42:21] our minds. It was a direct rebuttal rebuttal of Will forget her soon
[00:42:25] soon enough. Above all, we give. give. Thanks for the life of a woman.
[00:42:29] woman. I'm so proud to be able to
[00:42:31] to call my sister the unique, the
[00:42:35] the complex, the extraordinary and
[00:42:37] and irreplaceable Diana whose beauty
[00:42:39] beauty both internal and external,
[00:42:41] external, will never be extinguished
[00:42:43] extinguished from our minds. Which Which Charles are the public meant
[00:42:47] meant to believe? Are they to believe
[00:42:49] believe you or are they to believe
[00:42:52] believe the King, the head of state state of this country who's giving
[00:42:55] giving the impression very forcefully
[00:42:59] forcefully that this didn't happen? happen? Who are we to believe? Well,
[00:43:02] Well, I'm telling the truth. To the
[00:43:06] the King is giving an impression impression to the country. That's
[00:43:09] That's not true. Misleading people, people, even lying. I can hardly
[00:43:13] hardly be responsible for what Buckingham Buckingham Palace says. All I can
[00:43:15] can tell you is what was said and and what I heard and what shocked
[00:43:19] shocked me. What else would have
[00:43:21] have made me hang up on the King
[00:43:23] King that day? It was something as
[00:43:25] as outrageous as that slur against
[00:43:28] against Diana. What do you think
[00:43:32] think that her sons, his sons, your
[00:43:36] your nephews who you vowed so publicly,
[00:43:37] publicly, so movingly to protect
[00:43:41] protect will think when they hear
[00:43:43] hear you saying that revealing these
[00:43:45] these words nearly three decades decades on which you know, are bound
[00:43:49] bound to stir up huge amounts of
[00:43:51] of pain and anger. Well, I don't
[00:43:55] don't like to talk about what I've I've been speaking about to William
[00:43:58] William and Harry, but this will will not be a surprise to them. I
[00:44:01] I will tell you that these words
[00:44:03] words will not be a surprise to them.
[00:44:06] them. But what are they to make of
[00:44:10] of that? As human beings, you're
[00:44:12] you're telling the world their father
[00:44:14] father said, don't worry, everyone
[00:44:17] everyone will forget your dead mother. mother. I have a duty. You know,
[00:44:19] know, I was an eyewitness to history
[00:44:22] history and it's my duty in my. The
[00:44:25] The final season of my life. This This was very much a spur for me
[00:44:28] me to write. This now was. Both my my parents died in their 60s. I'm
[00:44:32] I'm in my 60s. I'm aware of mortality
[00:44:35] mortality and I wanted to just put put things down once and for all
[00:44:39] all that were true. And part of the
[00:44:43] the spine of my book is the construction
[00:44:45] construction of my eulogy. I know
[00:44:48] know this is not a threat. It's a
[00:44:50] a fact. I know lots of things about
[00:44:53] about the King, which I chose not not to include in the book because
[00:44:57] because they were not relevant. I'm I'm a historian. I've worked for
[00:45:00] for decent news organisations like like yourself and it was just my
[00:45:04] my duty to lay it out. There is a
[00:45:06] a reason why those words were in
[00:45:08] in my eulogy, and I have to give
[00:45:11] give that reason. Sounds a bit like like a threat. If you're saying you
[00:45:14] you know other things about the King King that could be damaging to him.
[00:45:18] him. No. Not at all a threat. It's It's just the reality. I want to
[00:45:21] to give the context of what I said said and what I didn't say. I'm not
[00:45:25] not threatening. I've got no interest.
[00:45:27] interest. I'm not a salacious writer
[00:45:29] writer on any level. But I just the
[00:45:32] the point being that if I was a salacious
[00:45:34] salacious writer and wanted to write write that sort of thing, I have
[00:45:38] have plenty of other things I could could have said and really have no
[00:45:41] no interest in doing so. One of the
[00:45:46] the other things that your sister
[00:45:48] sister told you as her marriage was
[00:45:51] was breaking down, you recount a
[00:45:53] a story where she says she's going
[00:45:55] going to get divorced because, and
[00:45:57] and I quote, my husband is in love
[00:46:00] love with his valet. Now you say
[00:46:03] say you never asked who that was
[00:46:06] was or why she believed it. Yet you
[00:46:09] you have printed it repeating what
[00:46:14] what is an incendiary claim suggesting suggesting that the King, the now
[00:46:17] now King, was in love with, we assume
[00:46:19] assume would be a male member of
[00:46:21] of staff. Do you believe that to
[00:46:24] to be true? I know Diana said that
[00:46:26] that to me and that's why I recorded
[00:46:28] recorded it. So it's in the context context of a conversation where Diana
[00:46:32] Diana is telling me that her marriage marriage is over, and I remember remember it very well. We were at
[00:46:36] at a restaurant called San Lorenzo
[00:46:39] Lorenzo and in London and she said
[00:46:43] said to me, Carlos, which is what what she called me, I am going to
[00:46:46] to get divorced. And I knew her marriage marriage was rocky, but I had no
[00:46:49] no idea that that was where she was
[00:46:52] was headed. And so I just said to
[00:46:54] to her, look, I obviously I totally totally support whatever decision decision you made. I know it's not
[00:46:58] not a decision you'll have made lightly, lightly, but I do worry. I said,
[00:47:02] said, I do worry that the public
[00:47:04] public will really be in a way angry angry with you for killing the fairytale
[00:47:08] fairytale that they've all subscribed subscribed to. And those are the
[00:47:11] the words she said to me. You say say though in the book it was an
[00:47:15] an improbable claim and therefore therefore to include it in the book
[00:47:19] book when it is improbable, when when you know that this will be incendiary
[00:47:22] incendiary to many people's ears. ears. And also you're a historian
[00:47:26] historian of great renown and used used to dealing with sources and
[00:47:29] and evidence. Some people might wonder
[00:47:31] wonder if you have included that
[00:47:34] that claim, which you can't verify.
[00:47:36] verify. Well. I can absolutely swear
[00:47:38] swear that she said those words to
[00:47:41] to me. But in terms of proving that
[00:47:44] that that happened, I just wonder wonder and you know, this will be
[00:47:47] be the case that some people listening
[00:47:49] listening will wonder if you are
[00:47:51] are including some of these allegations
[00:47:54] allegations in order to create interest
[00:47:58] interest to sell your book, perhaps perhaps you may be accused of that.
[00:48:01] that. You know that. Of course, I've I've been accused of lots of things.
[00:48:04] things. I remember straight after
[00:48:05] after delivering the eulogy, I became
[00:48:08] became a bit of a tabloid punchbag. punchbag. So I'm used to when I speak
[00:48:11] speak up for Diana, I'm used to brickbats brickbats coming my way. That's what
[00:48:14] what happens. My job, though, is is at the end of the day, I think
[00:48:18] think we have to get back to why why I wrote this. It's a brother's
[00:48:22] brother's tribute, a loving tribute
[00:48:23] tribute to a sister. And I think
[00:48:26] think she deserves honesty. So that's that's what I've delivered. Do you
[00:48:29] you feel that people have sometimes
[00:48:33] sometimes misunderstood that? Of Of course she had these huge struggles,
[00:48:37] struggles, these huge agonies, but but actually there was another side
[00:48:40] side to her that, you know, leaps leaps off the many of the pages of
[00:48:43] of your book. She was just phenomenally phenomenally good fun. We grew up
[00:48:47] up together. I mean, it was never never a dull moment. We both have
[00:48:50] have ADHD. She was never diagnosed, diagnosed, but clearly we did. I
[00:48:54] I got a letter from a nanny recently recently who was lovely, and she
[00:48:56] she said you were a bit of a handful.
[00:48:58] handful. And I think we probably probably were, but the but not nothing
[00:49:02] nothing malicious, just a lot of
[00:49:05] of energy and humour. You see, I
[00:49:07] I wanted to get across that Diana Diana was such a breath of fresh
[00:49:10] fresh air. She was also a complicated
[00:49:14] complicated person and under all all of that pressure she did also
[00:49:17] also want to tell her story and you
[00:49:21] you introduced her to Martin Bashir.
[00:49:24] Bashir. Then of the BBC, the journalist journalist who conned her into giving
[00:49:27] giving an interview by using the
[00:49:31] the wildest of claims. Now, after
[00:49:33] after years of investigations, the the BBC has eventually apologised
[00:49:37] apologised for their part in all
[00:49:38] all of that. But do you think that
[00:49:42] that that interview, what happened
[00:49:44] happened then is linked even indirectly
[00:49:48] indirectly to her finding herself herself in Paris on the night of
[00:49:51] of her death, getting into that car
[00:49:54] car and ending up in that crash. crash. Do you make that connection?
[00:49:57] connection? I do make it as a connection,
[00:50:00] connection, not the connection. So
[00:50:02] So Diana was under huge pressure
[00:50:04] pressure and particularly after she
[00:50:07] she separated, I do think with Panorama,
[00:50:11] Panorama, yes, they conned Diana. Diana. They also conned me by showing
[00:50:15] showing false bank statements to
[00:50:17] to me to get to Diana by saying that
[00:50:19] that somebody else had missed had
[00:50:22] had been deceiving her. But what
[00:50:26] what happened? The consequences of
[00:50:28] of Diana being told you cannot trust
[00:50:32] trust anyone meant that she was alone
[00:50:33] alone that night. Really. And I think think that she was convinced that
[00:50:37] that her she got rid of her driver. driver. Totally innocent man was
[00:50:40] was told that he couldn't be there. there. He wouldn't have been in Paris.
[00:50:44] Paris. But police bodyguards, you you know, private protection officers
[00:50:46] officers they were got rid of too. too. And I think that's really it
[00:50:50] it all builds to people said, oh, oh, she was paranoid. She wasn't
[00:50:53] wasn't paranoid. She was convinced convinced that she couldn't trust
[00:50:56] trust people because the evidence evidence was there. And, you know,
[00:50:59] know, I think that left her vulnerable vulnerable that night. She had also
[00:51:03] also by that point she'd lost her
[00:51:06] her security. She'd had her title
[00:51:08] title taken away from her too, by
[00:51:10] by the Royal Family. That's happened
[00:51:12] happened to one of her sons, Harry.
[00:51:15] Harry. He's had his title taken away.
[00:51:19] away. He's losing a fight to get
[00:51:21] get his security back. How do you you think Harry and his family have
[00:51:24] have been treated by the Royal Family? Family? I would feel very reluctant
[00:51:27] reluctant to get involved in this
[00:51:29] this discussion. I would say that
[00:51:33] that I personally worry about the
[00:51:35] the fifth in line to the throne who
[00:51:38] who served in the military, not having having any police protection. It
[00:51:41] It does worry me not politically,
[00:51:43] politically, not because I can influence influence Ravec or whatever they're
[00:51:47] they're called the security people. people. But just as an uncle, I do
[00:51:50] do worry about the security aspect
[00:51:52] aspect titles. I, you know, less.
[00:51:55] less. I know I've got one, but I I don't really use it. So titles
[00:51:59] titles are not very important to
[00:52:00] to me. So I would just say from a
[00:52:04] a security aspect, as an uncle who's who's seen his sister die in very,
[00:52:08] very, very preventable circumstances
[00:52:11] circumstances that I would veer towards towards protection. But do you fear
[00:52:15] fear there is somehow an an echo echo of what happened to Diana? You
[00:52:18] You know, Harry has said on many many occasions that he hasn't felt
[00:52:22] felt supported by the institution institution over the choices that that he's made with his life. Do
[00:52:25] Do you worry about there being an
[00:52:27] an echo of what happened to your your sister? I think there's a perception
[00:52:31] perception in the media that I'm
[00:52:32] I'm on Harry's side. Well, I'm on
[00:52:36] on my deceased sister's son's side, side, both of them. And if either
[00:52:39] either of them wanted anything, then then I'd be equally there for them.
[00:52:42] them. And I never get involved in
[00:52:45] in one camp or the other except as
[00:52:47] as a benign figure. I hope that's
[00:52:50] that's my role. Do you think Diana
[00:52:52] Diana would identify with the attention, attention, the focus that has been
[00:52:56] been put on them? And with Meghan, Meghan, who said she felt like she
[00:52:59] she was the most trolled person in in the world, you know, they were
[00:53:02] were here during the summer not so
[00:53:03] so long ago. If you look at an article
[00:53:06] article in a tabloid about Diana
[00:53:10] Diana or the couple that you're mentioning, mentioning, Harry and Meghan, you
[00:53:14] you know, it's they can be really, really, really unpleasant. And I
[00:53:18] I think it would be really beholden beholden on people to learn from from Diana's example. I'm not here
[00:53:22] here to speak for Harry and Meghan,
[00:53:24] Meghan, but for anyone who's being
[00:53:26] being destroyed in this way daily,
[00:53:28] daily, it must be such a cancerous cancerous influence in their life.
[00:53:32] life. I saw it with Diana, I saw saw Diana, I mentioned it in the
[00:53:35] the eulogy, her tears of despair. despair. One of the problems with
[00:53:38] with Diana was she's very, very sensitive
[00:53:41] sensitive to criticism. And of course, course, I'm sure most of your viewers
[00:53:45] viewers now think, oh, she had this this splendid life and it was all all amazing. And she didn't. She
[00:53:48] She was so privileged and so perfect perfect in so many ways, but she
[00:53:52] she was really brought low by all all that criticism. And yeah, I suppose
[00:53:56] suppose it's a pity when I see echoes echoes of that. Now you've written
[00:54:00] written about the monarchy over the the ages and goodness knows in history
[00:54:03] history there have been plenty of of splits between the Spencers and
[00:54:07] and the Windsors. But there's now
[00:54:09] now a very bitter, difficult split split inside the Windsor family between
[00:54:13] between the two boys. You've said said you don't want to take sides,
[00:54:16] sides, but what do you think their
[00:54:18] their mother would say to them about
[00:54:21] about the division between them? them? There's a lot of reasons on
[00:54:24] on both sides why this has got to
[00:54:27] to this stage and as an uncle I hope
[00:54:29] hope one day it's resolved. But I I don't know. I certainly don't know
[00:54:33] know what's been done in the finer
[00:54:36] finer detail. And so I would feel
[00:54:38] feel intrusive if I got more involved involved than to say, of course a
[00:54:41] a mother would want her two sons sons to be happy together and love
[00:54:45] love each other. Do you believe in
[00:54:48] in the monarchy? Well, I believe believe it exists and I believe it
[00:54:51] it will continue to exist and. I
[00:54:56] I think monarchies are generally generally a. When they work, they
[00:55:00] they work really well. I'm married married to a Norwegian and they're.
[00:55:03] they're. Monarchy is absolute. It's It's so admirable. I really have
[00:55:07] have a lot of time for it. I. I haven't
[00:55:10] haven't got a. I think monarchy is is absolutely fine. I'm probably
[00:55:14] probably with the majority of the the British people. You think God, God, who do you get as a president?
[00:55:18] president? And that's quite worrying. worrying. Some of the politicians
[00:55:22] politicians who might go for that
[00:55:24] that role, who would be less appetising
[00:55:26] appetising than a monarch. I find find some of the flummery around
[00:55:29] around monarchy quite jarring. You
[00:55:32] You know, you mentioned the statement
[00:55:35] statement earlier. His Majesty says, says, I just don't think it's healthy
[00:55:39] healthy for a human being to be seen
[00:55:43] seen in such archaic servile terms.
[00:55:45] terms. So I'm a bit more I'm all
[00:55:48] all for monarchy, but I like a modern
[00:55:50] modern monarchy. Do you support this
[00:55:55] this monarchy and this monarch? Because Because some of the claims in your
[00:55:58] your book are incredibly damning
[00:56:01] damning of the monarch of this country,
[00:56:03] country, who also people watching
[00:56:05] watching will remember has been seriously
[00:56:08] seriously ill in this last year.
[00:56:09] year. The family has had illness
[00:56:12] illness and strife and upset and
[00:56:15] and division. Do you support this
[00:56:18] this monarchy? I do. You have a funny
[00:56:21] funny way of showing it? Well, I'm
[00:56:25] I'm not dealing with King Charles Charles as monarch in this book.
[00:56:28] book. This is all 30 odd years ago.
[00:56:30] ago. And what was said and done then.
[00:56:32] then. There are so many memories
[00:56:34] memories in the book and it's feels feels very meaningful to sit in this
[00:56:38] this house where much of what you you recount took place, even though though this wasn't your happy family
[00:56:42] family home. Well, my fondest memories memories of Diana tend to be from
[00:56:46] from our happy childhood home, which which was before this, which is Park
[00:56:49] Park House in Sandringham in Norfolk.
[00:56:53] Norfolk. Just it wasn't even though
[00:56:55] though we had the rupture of my parents
[00:56:59] parents divorce, it was such a happy happy home. And it's just those days,
[00:57:02] days, their carefree days. So not not an instance, but a period of
[00:57:06] of life. And I tell you, it really really breaks me up when I look at
[00:57:09] at old photographs of Diana as a a child and then think what happened
[00:57:13] happened to her? It's terribly sad. How much do
[00:57:16] sad. How much do you miss her? Well,
[00:57:23] Well, every day, you know, that's that's the thing with sibling loss,
[00:57:25] loss, you never get over it. Do you
[00:57:33] you think there may be a time where
[00:57:36] where you've used the phrase get
[00:57:38] get over, but reading the book and
[00:57:41] and given how this has all played
[00:57:43] played in public, there is a sense
[00:57:46] sense that somehow what happened happened to her has understandably
[00:57:50] understandably almost consumed you
[00:57:51] you at times. I have a very. Luckily
[00:57:55] Luckily I have a hugely diverse and and happy life. One of the reasons
[00:57:58] reasons I call this swansong actually actually is because it's my sign
[00:58:01] sign off. I have been Diana's brother.
[00:58:04] brother. This is my final take on
[00:58:06] on the situation and I have a wonderful,
[00:58:09] wonderful, happy life. Gorgeous children,
[00:58:12] children, fabulous wife and we live live this much more normal life than
[00:58:15] than this looks like. And that's
[00:58:18] that's my future. This is my swan
[00:58:20] swan song too. I'm not here to bang
[00:58:23] bang on about Diana. This is my final
[00:58:25] final word. Celebration of her. And
[00:58:29] And I will step off into the sunset
[00:58:31] sunset now and not be available for
[00:58:34] for comment. But there will be, as
[00:58:37] as we've discussed, a lot of turbulence,
[00:58:41] turbulence, a lot of anger, perhaps perhaps a lot of divisions stirred stirred up by some of the more eye
[00:58:44] eye catching claims that you have
[00:58:47] have made. And some people might
[00:58:50] might wonder just maybe, as maybe
[00:58:53] maybe in every family, some family
[00:58:55] family secrets are better left unsaid. unsaid. They certainly are. And they
[00:58:59] they have been left unsaid. Will
[00:59:03] Will you say more? You've said no.
[00:59:04] no. That's it. That's me done. Tears.
[00:59:09] Tears. My 62 year Athlos.
[00:59:24] MUSIC
[01:00:13] Live from Washington. This is
[01:00:15] BBC News. Tehran and Washington exchanged
[01:00:18] exchanged new warnings as their months
[01:00:20] months long stalemate threatens to
[01:00:22] to spiral back into open conflict. conflict. Ukraine attacks Moscow
[01:00:26] Moscow with hundreds of drones hitting
[01:00:28] hitting a major oil facility and
[01:00:30] and apartment blocks. And Germany's Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz
[01:00:33] Merz calls state election results results a disaster, but insists that
[01:00:37] that he'll stay on. Helena Humphrey.
[01:00:48] Humphrey. Good to have you with us. us. Iran says that it's received
[01:00:52] received indications that the United United States is preparing to resume resume military operations against
[01:00:56] against it. Tehran gave no basis basis for that assessment, but said said that any American