Prince William defended by Arbiter over 'work-shy' claim

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In 2012 Amol Rajan also spoke of his “dislike” for royals, including Prince Philip and the “scientifically illiterate Prince Charles”. Now the BBC Media editor, 38, is at the heart of a two-part documentary about William and Harry’s relationship with the media and each other. The first part aired last night, with the Royal Family reported to be furious they weren’t given the opportunity to properly respond to its claims.

And the Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said: “Choosing Amol Rajan – someone who once called the Royal Family ‘absurd’ – does seem like an odd choice.

It speaks volumes about the BBC. It claims to be ­impartial but if you believe that you’ll believe anything. We can assume the documentary is going to be critical of the Royal Family.”

Part one of the BBC Two show The Princes and the Press charted the years from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 up to the marriage of Meghan and Harry in 2018. Part two next Monday examines the period from 2018 to 2021 and the royal tours of the Sussexes and the Cambridges.

Insiders at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House were said to have been angry at not having the chance to view it beforehand. They made clear there was no desire to censor the programme makers. But the royal households agreed they should have had right of reply.

Senior royal sources called the documentary “tittle-tattle” – and said the row over the programme has left the Queen “upset”.

BBC guidelines require all news and current affairs documentaries to offer the right of reply where appropriate. A spokesman said: “The programme is about how royal journalism is done and features a range of journalists.”

Prince William was clearly too busy to watch as he was attending the Tusk Conservation Awards at London’s BFI Southbank – where he called for endangered wildlife to be included in the battle to combat ­climate change.

Earlier this year he attacked the BBC for its failings surrounding the bombshell 1995 Martin Bashir interview with his mother Diana for Panorama.

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