The BBC has agreed to pay “substantial damages” to the former nanny of Princes William and Harry over “fabricated” claims that she had an affair with Prince Charles . The broadcaster issued a public apology to Alexandra Pettifer, also known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, at the High Court in London over “false and malicious” allegations that she had an affair with Charles, became pregnant with his child and had an abortion.
The claims were used to obtain Martin Bashir's exclusive interview with Princess Diana on Panorama in 1995. Ms Legge-Bourke’s solicitor Louise Prince told the court that the allegations had caused “serious personal consequences for all concerned”, The Mirror reports .
Ms Prince added that the “totally unfounded” claims had “appeared to exploit some prior false speculation in the media” concerning Prince Charles and Ms Legge-Bourke. Ms Prince explained that Princess Diana “became upset with the claimant without apparent justification” after hearing of the allegations in 1995.
