Princess Diana’s former chauffeur settles slander claim against BBC
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In a tale that has leapt straight from the pages of a gripping drama, Princess Diana's former chauffeur, Steve Davies, has emerged victorious in a legal battle against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The case, which has captured the attention of royal watchers and the public alike, centres around a slander claim that has finally been settled, bringing closure to a saga that has lingered for over two decades.
Steve Davies, who served as Diana's chauffeur in 1995, became the centre of a storm when BBC journalist Martin Bashir made false allegations about Diana and her brother, Earl Spencer.
These allegations suggested that Davies was leaking confidential information to the press, specifically to the Today newspaper, and advised that Diana should terminate his employment.
This advice, given under the guise of protecting the Princess, was not only unfounded but also malicious, leading to Davies' dismissal without cause.
The legal team representing Davies, Carter-Ruck, presented the case in court, revealing the depth of the deceit perpetrated against their client.
Persephone Bridgman Baker, speaking on behalf of Carter-Ruck, detailed Davies was ‘devastated by the termination of his employment with the princess’.
‘He had maintained a close professional relationship with the princess throughout the many years he had worked for her, and he was given no reason for the termination,’ she said.
‘It is a matter of profound regret to him that, as he now knows, the princess believed that he had betrayed her, and he was unable to correct the position before her tragic death.’
The allegations against Davies resurfaced and gained widespread attention following their depiction in the fifth season of Netflix's hit series The Crown.
In a statement delivered in court, Samuel Rowe, representing the BBC, issued an apology on behalf of the corporation.
‘The BBC accepts that the allegation was likely to have caused HRH the Princess of Wales to doubt the Claimant's loyalty and professionalism and may well have contributed to the Claimant's redundancy six months later,’ Rowe said in court.
‘The BBC is sorry for the distress and harm suffered by the claimant.’
The court's statement confirmed that the BBC would cover Davies' legal costs and provide him with substantial compensation.
This comes after BBC refused to release a potentially explosive letter sent by Buckingham Palace to the broadcaster days before the interview aired.
The letter was in the BBC’s archives for 25 years, and it was penned during a period of heightened tension between the Palace and BBC.
Tension arose after Princess Diana admitted to royal aides that she had granted Bashir an exclusive interview about the breakdown of her marriage to then-Prince Charles.
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The case, which has captured the attention of royal watchers and the public alike, centres around a slander claim that has finally been settled, bringing closure to a saga that has lingered for over two decades.
Steve Davies, who served as Diana's chauffeur in 1995, became the centre of a storm when BBC journalist Martin Bashir made false allegations about Diana and her brother, Earl Spencer.
These allegations suggested that Davies was leaking confidential information to the press, specifically to the Today newspaper, and advised that Diana should terminate his employment.
This advice, given under the guise of protecting the Princess, was not only unfounded but also malicious, leading to Davies' dismissal without cause.
Princess Diana’s former chauffeur, Steve Davies, successfully settled a claim against the BBC. Credit: Shutterstock
The legal team representing Davies, Carter-Ruck, presented the case in court, revealing the depth of the deceit perpetrated against their client.
Persephone Bridgman Baker, speaking on behalf of Carter-Ruck, detailed Davies was ‘devastated by the termination of his employment with the princess’.
‘He had maintained a close professional relationship with the princess throughout the many years he had worked for her, and he was given no reason for the termination,’ she said.
‘It is a matter of profound regret to him that, as he now knows, the princess believed that he had betrayed her, and he was unable to correct the position before her tragic death.’
The allegations against Davies resurfaced and gained widespread attention following their depiction in the fifth season of Netflix's hit series The Crown.
In a statement delivered in court, Samuel Rowe, representing the BBC, issued an apology on behalf of the corporation.
‘The BBC accepts that the allegation was likely to have caused HRH the Princess of Wales to doubt the Claimant's loyalty and professionalism and may well have contributed to the Claimant's redundancy six months later,’ Rowe said in court.
‘The BBC is sorry for the distress and harm suffered by the claimant.’
The court's statement confirmed that the BBC would cover Davies' legal costs and provide him with substantial compensation.
This comes after BBC refused to release a potentially explosive letter sent by Buckingham Palace to the broadcaster days before the interview aired.
The letter was in the BBC’s archives for 25 years, and it was penned during a period of heightened tension between the Palace and BBC.
Tension arose after Princess Diana admitted to royal aides that she had granted Bashir an exclusive interview about the breakdown of her marriage to then-Prince Charles.
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