Today’s BBC controversial royal documentary was fronted by a BBC journalist. The journalist apologized today for labelling the public role played by the Duke and Duchess Of Cambridge as a “total fraud” and calling Prince Philip a “racist buffoon”.
Amol Rajan – the BBC journalist who presented The Princes And The Press – made the incendiary remarks in articles written in 2012 for The Independent, the newspaper which he used to edit.
Rajan today tweeted, “In reference to very reasonable queries about some foolish comment from a previous life, I want you to know that I regret it deeply.” I wrote things that were rude and immature and I look back on them now with real embarrassment, and ask myself what I was thinking, frankly…’
In a second tweet, he added: ‘I would like to say sorry for any offence they caused then or now. He added: ‘I’m totally committed to impartiality, and I hope that our recent programs can be judged according to their merits.
Open letter written to William and Kate in December 2012 following the announcement of their baby news, the republican self-declared urged them not to indulge in royal patronage or aristocracy and claimed that everybody would win if they did.
Rajan felicitated the couple for the announcement of their pregnancy and said that they were a total fraud. He added: “Neither one of you has a special claim to the glory city of Cambridge, so stop pretending you do.”
He suggested, in addition to the ‘vast castle’ idea, that the duke/duchess raise their family in an “decent suburban house” and their child attend a “normal school”.
Other columns were written by the journalist at 38 years old for the newspaper. He described Prince Philip, a racist buffoon and Prince Charles as being’scientifically ignorant’.
He also blasted the Diamond Jubilee as a ‘celebration of mediocrity’ and said of the royals: ‘Aside from the Queen – whose public image is crafted by an ever-expanding team of propagandists – this clan is unusually full of fools.’
After Tim Davie, director general of BBC, said that last year he would clamp down on employees posting views online in order to maintain impartiality and that staff might even have to be removed from Twitter if they don’t meet the “high standard”
Amol Rajan – the BBC journalist who presented The Princes And The Press – made the incendiary remarks about William and Kate (pictured with Harry and Meghan in 2019) in articles written in 2012 for The Independent – the newspaper he edited
Amol Rajan is pictured at a cocktail party along with several Meghan associates, including Misha Nonoo (pictured alongside Rajan).
Amol Rajan – the BBC journalist who presented The Princes And The Press – today apologised for his old comments
This will increase pressure on BBC for its handling Rajan’s 2-part documentary. The BBC was criticized by Clarence House, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. There were also accusations of bias.
It was alleged to contain a series of false and unsubstantiated accusations against the media about collusion, especially in relation to the Duke and Duchess, of Sussex, during the turbulent period that followed their resignation from royal duties.
Rajan (the BBC’s media editor) allowed many statements made in the documentary to air on prime time TV to continue unquestioned.
Critics claim that this series failed to address allegations by Sussex supporters, such as Jenny Afia, Meghan’s lawyer.
Yesterday’s photos showed Rajan with several of Meghan’s friends at a cocktail party, which included Misha Nonoo, one of her closes friends.
Presenter photographed together with Miss Nonoo fashion designer at 2015’s Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman event.
Rajan also was pictured with Miss Chapman, Keren Craig and Keren Chapman who co-founded Marchesa.
Meghan was a Marchesa model in the past. She still showcases Marchesa’s fashion labels regularly.
Rajan, however, claims that he does not remember ever ‘exchanging words’ with Miss Nonoo or Miss Craig prior to or after the party. The event was organized in memory of Evgeny lebedev who is a media owner.
Yesterday night, a BBC spokesperson said that Rajan’s pictures were absurdly meant to mean something.
Amol did not meet Ms Nonoo nor Ms Craig prior to or after they were taken. Amol does not recall any conversation with them. Nevertheless, he wishes them – and you – a very Merry Christmas.’
Rajan’s views in the past were addressed by a spokesperson who said: “This article predates Amol’s work at BBC. Past views are forgotten once journalists become BBC employees.
Amol, an accomplished BBC journalist, writes impartially and according to the BBC’s editorial guidelines. Every BBC news output must be objective.
Meghan Markle with her friend Misha Nonoo at the 12th annual Vogue Fashion Fund Awards New York City in 2015
Prince William was seen watching his Aston Villa team against Manchester City in Villa Park on last night
Rajan was contacted directly for comments.
Omid Scobie (journalist and coauthor of Finding Freedom: The Biography of the Sussexes) stated that negative stories were being leaked about Meghan in the first episode of The Princes And The Press. He did not identify the people involved.
He stated that ‘there were some people who believed she had to be in her spot’.
The royal houses responded by saying that “too many overblown, unfounded claims from unknown sources are presented as facts, and it’s disappointing when anyone (including the BBC) gives them credibility.”